Paul W. Bryant Museum: Exploring Alabama football legacy
Discover the legacy of Alabama football through artifacts, memorabilia and state-of-the-art displays at the Paul W. Bryant Museum
Gary Cosby Jr. and Chase Goodbread
The unofficial start of the 2025 college football season starts in Atlanta.
Talking season begins for Alabama football July 16 as head coach Kalen DeBoer, defensive lineman Tim Keenan III, linebacker Deontae Lawson and offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor represent the Crimson Tide at SEC media days.
Here are three main questions surrounding Alabama‘s 2025 hopes as SEC media days approaches.
Is Alabama football confident in its quarterback room?
The biggest question about the Alabama quarterback room is a much simpler one: who will take the first snaps against Florida State Aug. 30? But in the middle of a battle for playing time between Ty Simpson, Austin Mack and Keelon Russell is a much larger storyline, one surrounding the overall confidence and strength of the most important position on the football field.
Alabama does not have room for error with three scholarship quarterbacks heading into fall camp. One of those quarterbacks will be the face of an offense led by new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb. Grubb’s scheme may not be overtly new, but it’s expected to be revised from the season before.
Alabama may already have its answer in who will begin the season as the starting quarterback. Simpson, the veteran of the unit, is widely viewed as the favorite and has been publicized as a starting quarterback would, from his teammates to his presence at the Manning Passing Academy.
No matter who is named starter, the reality remains. Alabama will have a quarterback without much experience who is learning an offense with new wrinkles. And no matter who is behind center, that reality will remain all through 2025.
Does Alabama have offensive line stability heading into 2025?
Alabama has fewer offensive line position battles on paper heading into the 2025 season. The Crimson Tide seemingly has one question mark at left guard, a battle that could already be solved in either redshirt senior Geno VanDeMark or senior Kam Dewberry, who transferred from Texas A&M.
Every other spot seems set with Proctor at left tackle, Parker Brailsford at center, Jaeden Roberts at right guard and Wilkin Formby at right tackle.
Formby was at the center of a position battle last offseason which carried over into the season. Heading into 2025, there is seemingly no question about his standing in a room without much depth behind him.
With three 2026 NFL draft prospects on the line in Proctor, Brailsford and Roberts, can Alabama cement its line as a strength for an offense with a new leader behind center running a new scheme?
Will Alabama pass rush be enough to be impactful?
LT Overton wants to make a statement. So does Keenan, Qua Russaw, James Smith and whoever finds themselves in pass rush situations for the Alabama defense.
For a unit that consistently provided pressure in 2024, the Crimson Tide did not have much to show for it, finishing with 71 tackles-for-loss (ninth-best in SEC) and 25 sacks (tied for 13th-best in SEC).
With an overflowing room of talent at both cornerback and safety, and with a flux of veteran leadership returning at linebacker, the crux of Alabama’s defensive production hinges on its ability to finish in the backfield, a statement defensive coordinator Kane Wommack made a point of emphasis throughout spring and into summer.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.Â
