Alabama spring takeaways
Alabama’s spring practice is ramping up with the A‑Day scrimmage scheduled for April 11 at 1 p.m. CT as Kalen DeBoer evaluates a reloaded defensive line and open inside‑LB battles (gatorswire.usatoday.com) (heavy.com). True sophomore DB Ivan Taylor has been singled out for a “big leap,” Daniel Hill is focusing on body composition, and Keon Sabb returned for his redshirt senior season (heavy.com) (tide1009.com).
Oregon transfer Terrance Green — listed at 6‑5 and roughly 330 pounds — joins USC’s Devan Thompkins and South Carolina’s Desmond Umeozulu as veteran additions meant to beef up Alabama’s interior and edge rotation, a trio DeBoer singled out as giving the staff more personnel flexibility. (bamahammer.com) Sophomore London Simmons will miss spring work with an injury, which has pushed returning pieces like Jeremiah Beaman and Edric Hill into a heavier early‑season rotation while coaches evaluate who can anchor the nose and three‑tech spots. (tdalabamamag.com) The two open inside‑linebacker jobs are trending toward Virginia Tech transfer Caleb Woodson and a mix of young returners such as Luke Metz and Justin Hill, with the staff noting that Deontae Lawson, Justin Jefferson and Nikhai Hill‑Green — who combined for the bulk of off‑ball snaps in 2025 — are no longer on the depth chart. (rolltide.com) True sophomore Ivan Taylor logged 14 total tackles in 2025, worked primarily on special teams as a freshman, and earned praise this spring from teammates and staff for an expanded role in the secondary. (espn.com) Running back Daniel Hill entered spring noticeably leaner — listed at 244 last season and reported around 236 this offseason — after a 2025 campaign that produced 487 all‑purpose yards, six rushing touchdowns, and workouts that included an 805‑pound squat claimed in media reporting. (tdalabamamag.com) Safety Keon Sabb’s 2025 stat line (roughly 51 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and multiple pass breakups) and his stated priority of playing a full, healthy final collegiate season framed his decision‑making this offseason. (rolltide.com) Coaches say spring will sort rotation and technique but that several battles — the defensive line depth chart and both inside‑linebacker roles among them — are likely to carry into fall camp before final starters are settled. (tdalabamamag.com)
