Happy Friday, everyone. We’ll open today with Colin Gay, who wonders if Alabama can overcome inexperience at the most critical position.
Alabama will have a starting quarterback. Mack or Russell will be the first to take the reins of the Crimson Tide offense. But no matter who is the starter, Alabama’s next starting quarterback will be as inexperienced of an option as the Crimson Tide has had. Mack has 70 career snaps, per Pro Football Focus, and 25 career pass attempts. Russell has 37 career snaps and 15
career pass attempts.
Alabama doesn’t have much leeway behind them, signing two 2026 quarterbacks in Jett Thomalla and Tayden-Evan Kaawa.
DeBoer is going full-fledged development in the Alabama quarterback room in a college football world where experience helps lead to championships.
In this modern era, poaching away QBs who have already proven themselves at the college level is the safer play. Keelon Russell is a special talent, but the learning curve is steep.
Like so many of us, Michael Casagrande loathes college football selling its soul.
A certain coworker of mine has even advocated returning to these times, tossing the playoff into the bin, and scrapping over which bowl game winner was supreme.
That was college football in its purest form — one we’ll never see again because everything evolves. There’s simply too much money in the playoff format and cash has never ruled over this sport quite like it does now.
A quote from Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea stuck with me from last week’s SEC spring meetings. It touches on this sport’s love of ritual and its past while preserving its future.
“We have traditions at the end of our season that are really sacred to us,” Lea said, “and yet, we’re going to reach a point where it’s less about the emotional connectivity of what we know and more about what’s practical for the game moving forward and what’s the vision for this over the next 10 years.”
Yes, let’s go back to the pre-BCS days. That would be wonderful.
A brutal October will determine Alabama’s fate this season.
The 2026 college football season is 93 days away. The Alabama Crimson Tide may not open with a vaunted Murderers’ Row of opponents — East Carolina, Kentucky, Florida State — in September, but they’ll face one of the toughest stretches for any team in the nation later in the season.
In what’s become an almost annual matchup, Alabama will take on the Georgia Bulldogs on Oct. 10. The third straight regular-season matchup between the SEC’s premier programs is at Bryant-Denny Stadium this year. A week later, Alabama visits Neyland Stadium for its annual Third Saturday in October clash with the Tennessee Volunteers.
Texas A&M visits Bryant-Denny Stadium on Oct. 24. The Tide and Aggies will meet for the first time since the two were divisional foes from 2012-2023.
The latest entry in Al dot com’s “50 players to know” is transfer CB Carmelo O’Neal.
Playing with FCS Mercer, O’Neal was a safety. He spent two seasons with the Bears, making 54 tackles across those years.
Last year, O’Neal led the team with 10 pass breakups and made 36 tackles as a sophomore. He entered the transfer portal, decided to switch to cornerback and wound up joining the Crimson Tide, after Wommack spotted him originally while watching game tape of Mercer while Alabama prepared for its Iron Bowl matchup with Auburn.
Alabama is loaded at defensive back entering the 2026 season. Domani Jackson was the lone starter lost from last year, with Lee returning alongside Zabien Brown, Bray Hubbard, Keon Sabb and Red Morgan.
Nate Oats officially announced the newcomers, with a short comment on each. The big men are going to be critical, to say the least.
Jamarion Davis-Fleming, forward, 6-10 − Mississippi State
Year: Sophomore
What Oats said: “Jamarion possesses unbelievable physical tools along with his athleticism and great size. Jamarion fits our blue collar mentality as he plays with a competitive edge combined with a great IQ.”
Drew Fielder, forward, 6-11 − Boise State
Year: Senior
What Oats said: “Drew has really developed in his three years in college and that is due to his amazing work ethic. Drew has improved his shot making from beyond the arc along with his ability to create and make plays from the perimeter. He is a multi-dimensional big man that can affect winning in many ways.”
Brandon Garrison, forward, 6-10 − Kentucky
Year: Senior
What Oats said: “Brandon possesses great size and potential due to his great feel inside the paint. Coming out of high school, Brandon was a player that is extremely skilled and has the ability to stretch the floor.”
Oats also learned that he will be traveling to Miami in early December.
Alabama leads 3-1 in the all-time series against Miami, with the first matchup occurring on Dec. 13, 1968, and the last taking place Nov. 28, 2021, in Orlando, Florida. The Crimson Tide won that game 96-64, as Keon Ellis led the way with 22 points and Jaden Shackelford (15 points), Juwan Gary (13) and JD Davison (13) also finished in double figures.
Miami finished last season with a 26-9 record, including a 13-5 clip against the ACC, in its first year under head coach Jai Lucas. The Hurricanes were the 7-seed in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament and beat 10-seed Missouri in the first round before falling to 2-seed Purdue in the Round of 32.
Last, while the WCWS run ended abruptly, Alabama softball has plenty of reason for optimism next season.
Alabama had one of the best pitching staffs in the country this season, and the only pitcher who is out of eligibility is Alea Johnson, who threw just 17 innings on the season and only appeared in one SEC game. Briski won SEC Pitcher of the Year and will be back for her senior season alongside rising sophomore Moten.
Offensively, Alabama’s home run and RBI leader Brooke Wells has two years of eligibility remaining. Jena Young and Salen Hawkins were outstanding defensively up the middle all season long, and Young was Alabama’s hottest hitter in the NCAA tournament. Players like Ana Roman and Ambrey Taylor had strong freshmen seasons and get even better and stronger with another offseason under their belts.
Anything can happen in the postseason in college softball, but Alabama will have both the talent and experience to make a run back to Oklahoma City in 2027.
Keep ‘em out of the portal, Pat.
That’s about it for today. Have a great weekend.
Roll Tide.
