Alabama football is expected to have one of the best teams in the country this year. How does its depth chart project going into the season?
With SEC Media Days approaching, it is time for Alabama football to be put back under the microscope. Every year, Alabama fans look to see how stacked their team is. It’s not just about which positions have All Americans at them. They also worry about the depth at key positions.
After losing Trevon Diggs, Terrell Lewis, Christopher Allen, Tua Tagovailoa, and Christian Miller to injury at points last season, depth matters just as much as star power for the Tide. Who is expected to win the starting jobs, and who will back them up? Let’s begin on offense.
Offensive line
Starting tackles: Alex Leatherwood (LT), Jedrick Wills (RT)
Backups: Evan Neal (LT), Tommy Brown (RT)
The starting tackles appear to be set for Alabama. Alex Leatherwood will switch from right guard to his natural position of left tackle to replace Jonah Williams, while Wills will be the anchor on the right side. Both of these juniors have an opportunity to be top draft picks in 2020.
Evan Neal is one of many young players who are expected to compete to replace Leatherwood next year. Right now, I give him the nod, but Alabama loves to shift around the offensive line whenever a player goes down.
Starting guards: Evan Neal (LG), Matt Womack (RG)
Backups: Deonte Brown (LG), Pierce Quick (RG)
The offensive line might shake up a bit throughout the season, but I expect Neal to start the first game. Emil Ekiyor could take this spot as well, but I believe Saban will want his five best linemen available to start, and this will be the best way to get it done.
Matt Womack isn’t an elite talent, but he has experience with Alabama, and Saban should trust him to start. He might lose his job later in the year, but he is a serviceable option.
The real question is what will happen once Deonte Brown comes back from suspension. He is thought to be the best option at left guard, but he will have to prove that he can be trusted to get out of Nick Saban’s dog house. Neal could swing over to right guard or move back to second string left tackle.
Starting center: Emil Ekiyor
Backup: Chris Owens
This one is up for debate. Many expect Ekiyor to start at left guard and for Owens to start the season at center, but it depends on what Saban wants. My best guess is that he will figure out who is the best center before finding a left guard for continuity purposes. Brown could then plug and play after his suspension. There will still be a competition in the fall, but I give Ekiyor the edge as of now.