Alabama Football: 5 potential breakout stars for 2017

Linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton returns for his senior season after tearing his ACL in the SEC Championship game last year. It seemed like Hamilton was a forgotten man after his injury, but he may use that as fuel to prove any doubters wrong.

Hamilton missed spring practice but returned to the team for summer workouts and by all accounts is in tremendous shape. He was selected to the All-SEC second team this year. He is expected to be a standout for the Crimson Tide defense.

Replacing Butkus Award winner and NFL first-round draft pick Reuben Foster won’t be easy, but the Tide will be counting on Hamilton to be one of the team leaders. Hamilton will pair up with fellow senior Rashaan Evans to be the two main inside linebackers, Alabama plays in the 3-4 most of the time.

Alabama lost a lot of talent on the defense last year and will count on their seniors who are stepping into enhanced leadership roles. Hamilton at middle linebacker will be making all of the defensive calls and adjustments on the field. The Tide and coach Saban won’t tolerate much of a drop-off in performance, if any, and Hamilton expects them to keep rolling.

"“At this place it’s all about competition. That’s one thing that Coach [Nick Saban] preaches when guys get here,” he said. “There’s no depth chart and none of the [recruit-rating] stars mean anything. That’s one reason we’re so successful. The younger guys come in pushing the older guys and they learn from us. Just all this great talent brings out the best in everybody.”"

Next: 2017 Alabama football game-by-game predictions

Compared to the typical season the 2017 Alabama football roster has experienced a fair amount of turnover. That leaves more opportunities for guys like these five to make an immediate impact on the field this year.