CULLMAN, Ala. – In the next three weeks, Alabama (April 11) and Auburn (April 18) will play in their “A-Day” spring games, and UAB will hold their up close and personal Spring Showcase (April 18), for fans to get their first looks at their 2026 football squads. All three schools are in the thick of spring practices, and with many football fans already starving for the sport, we’ll take a look at what there’s to be excited, and nervous, about with each of the three teams before they hit the field in the their respective scrimmages.
ALABAMA – I’m going to go backwards for this one. In two seasons Kalen DeBoer has gone 20-8, taken the Tide to a SEC Championship and won a College Football Playoff game. This isn’t at any old SEC school, however, and he wasn’t following up any old coach. What’s more important than the record is how they’ve lost games as of late. Versus Georgia in the SEC title game and Indiana in the Rose Bowl, Alabama was dominated, specifically in the trenches. Fans needn’t be concerned about what DeBoer wears, or his facial expressions on the sideline or what he says at press conferences- the trenches is where this tenure will live or die.
On the offensive line, the Tide will go into 2026 needing a new left tackle, left guard, center and right guard, giving new OL coach Adrian Klemm a clean slate. Only one starter returns, 2025 Freshman All-American right tackle Michael Carroll, and 6-7 sophomore behemoth Jackson Lloyd is in the lead to slot in for Kayden Proctor at the blind-side spot according to offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb. The interior, however, carries even more uncertainty. Every spot still seems to be up for grabs, with underclassmen and transfers looking to fill them.
The root of the concerns for the Tide are also reason to be optimistic. The expectations, the cache that comes with that shade of crimson and that ‘A’ on the collar (not to mention a top NIL pool) are enough to attract and keep some of the top talent in the country in Tuscaloosa. At the top of that list is receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams, who’s looking to bounce back after a disappointing sophomore season. While spring practice is just that- practice, Williams has produced highlight plays and rave reviews from coaches.
It remains unclear who will be throwing Williams the ball this fall, with quarterbacks Keelon Russell (R-Fr.) and Austin Mack (R-So.) in the midst of a position battle. While Russell was a more highly rated recruit (No. 2 recruit in the country in 2025), Mack has more experience in DeBoer’s system and followed the coach from Washington in 2024. Should it truly be a toss-up in August, expect to see Mack under center. However, with how talented both are, if one of them truly runs away with the job, Alabama likely has another star on their hands.
AUBURN – Football on the plains has been a tough watch since Auburn hired Hugh Freeze. Last year was inarguably the worst, as another elite D.J. Durkin defense featuring multiple to-be draft picks was completely wasted by a stagnant quarterback-less offense. The good news? Freeze is out, Durkin is back, and Alex Golesh is in as head coach, and he brought a potential Heisman candidate at quarterback with him. With South Florida in 2025, dual-threat Byrum Brown passed for 3158 yards and ran for an additional 1000. His leadership as a redshirt-senior, personality and talent will automatically give Auburn their best quarterback since Jarrett Stidham in 2018.
In spring practices so far, Golesh and the defensive staff have told reporters Brown is picking up right where he left off in 2025. Despite the departure of the bulk of the 2025 receiving core, namely Cam Coleman, there’s still loads of talent on the offensive side of the ball. Jeremiah Cobb will return at running back, and following Brown and Golesh were three of the four leading Bulls receivers in Keshaun Singleton, Chas Nimrod and Jeremiah Kroger.
The Tigers’ offensive line last year was one of the worst in the country, and with the departure of center Connor Lew, who missed much of ’25 with injury, and guard Jeremiah Wright, it’s still a work in progress. Former USF center Cole Best was one of the best at the position in the portal, and tackles Stanton Ramil (Michigan State) and Jo Simmons (James Madison) should start at the bookends. It’s too early to tell, however, and it could be another season with a patchwork line if things go wrong early.
Similarly, on the other side of the trenches, Auburn lost a ton of talent on the defensive line. Keldric Faulk and Keyron Crawford won’t be on the edge anymore, and Malik Blocton and Bobby Jamison-Travis will be missing on the interior. Durkin, one of the best defensive minds in the game, still has an incredible linebacker duo in Xavier Atkins and Elijah Melendez, but it’s going to be extremely difficult to replicate a defensive line close to last season’s.
UAB – Like Auburn, UAB was in dire need of a clean slate after one of the worst coaching hires in college football history. They got just that this offseason, promoting former offensive coordinator Alex Mortensen to lead the team. His small sample size as interim head coach in 2025 was inspiring, to say the least. His demeanor, offensive scheme and ability to rally players helped UAB achieve their first ranked win since 2021 and their first road victory since pre-Trent Dilfer in just five games. Mortensen’s offensive prowess helped pull in a promising transfer portal class as well, especially in the offensive backfield.
Last year’s one-two punch in Isaiah Jacobs and Jevon Jackson graduated, but the signing of three running backs made sure there was no lack of talent in the run game. Braylon McReynolds (ULM) and Javon Simpkins (Coastal Carolina) both bring 500-plus yard seasons to the table and project to be instant impact players, with Roderick Robinson II (Georgia), a sophomore, standing as a potential breakout back with SEC experience. On the defensive side of the ball, the hiring of Todd Grantham to call the plays signaled an emphasis on experience. In the portal, the bulk of the defensive players brought that as well. Veteran players like linemen Marlin Dean (Georgia State), Tylin Jackson (Eastern Washington), and Cam Cunningham (Youngstown St.) along with defensive backs Diezel Wilkinson (Montana) and Que Billingsley (Gardner-Webb) give UAB quality experience on the defense that they haven’t had in years.
It’s early however, and despite the good start for Mortensen, especially considering the situation he was left with, there’s much to still prove. If the offense can return to a level of production like 2023, the defense can just be even middle of the pack and the administration commits to maintaining and building the roster, UAB could be a feisty Mid-Major team in just a few years. It’s simply yet to be seen in this new era.
