2023 College Football Catalog: Previewing the Alabama Crimson Tide

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Aug 11, 2023
Sep 17, 2022; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban brings his team onto the field for warm ups prior to the game against Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Just like the NFL season is right around the corner (the Vikings played their first preseason game last night), college campuses are preparing to welcome back their football squads for the fall season.

As the summer progresses we will be taking a look into how many of the FBS college football programs fared in 2022, what they did during the offseason, and how they can find success during the 2023 season. Today, we move deeper into the SEC, discussing the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Other SEC previews:

Big 12 previews:

Big 10 previews:

Overview

Alabama Crimson Tide
Nov 26, 2022; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban prior to the game against the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

2022 Results

  1. W vs. Utah State, 55-0
  2. W @ Texas, 20-19
  3. W vs. Louisiana-Monroe, 63-7
  4. W vs. Vanderbilt, 55-3
  5. W @ (20) Arkansas, 49-20
  6. W vs. Texas A&M, 24-20
  7. L @ (6) Tennessee, 49-52
  8. W vs. (24) Mississippi State, 30-6
  9. L @ (15) LSU, 31-32
  10. W @ (11) Ole Miss, 30-24
  11. W vs. Austin Peay, 34-0
  12. W vs. Auburn, 49-27
  13. W vs. (11) Kansas State, 45-20 (Sugar Bowl)

2022 All-SEC Members

  • RB Jahmyr Gibbs (Second-Team)
  • OL Emil Ekiyor Jr. (First-Team)
  • OL Javion Cohen (Second-Team)
  • OL Tyler Steen (Second-Team)
  • LB Will Anderson Jr. (First-Team)
  • LB Henry To’oTo’o (First-Team)
  • DB Kool-Aid McKinstry (First-Team)
  • DB Jordan Battle (First-Team)
  • K Will Reichard (Second-Team)

Recent Vikings Draft Picks

  • TE Irv Smith Jr. (2019 Draft; R2, P50)
  • OT Austin Shepherd (2015 Draft; R7, P228)

Every Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Draft Pick

2023 Draft Selections

  • R1, P1: QB Bryce Young (Carolina Panthers)
  • R1, P3: LB Will Anderson (Houston Texans)
  • R1, P12: RB Jahmyr Gibbs (Detroit Lions)
  • R2, P45: S Brian Branch (Detroit Lions)
  • R3, P65: OL Tyler Steen (Philadelphia Eagles)
  • R3, P95: S Jordan Battle (Cincinnati Bengals)
  • R3, P101: TE Cameron Latu (San Francisco 49ers)
  • R5, P167: LB Henry To’oTo’o (Houston Texans)
  • R7, P224: DB DeMarcco Hellams (Atlanta Falcons)

2023 Schedule

  1. 9/2 vs. Middle Tennessee
  2. 9/9 vs. Texas
  3. 9/16 @ USF
  4. 9/23 vs. Ole Miss
  5. 9/30 @ Mississippi State
  6. 10/7 @ Texas A&M
  7. 10/14 vs. Arkansas
  8. 10/21 vs. Tennessee
  9. 11/4 vs. LSU
  10. 11/11 @ Kentucky
  11. 11/18 vs. Chattanooga
  12. 11/25 @ Auburn

Notable Additions

Jan 9, 2023; Inglewood, CA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Kamari Lassiter (3), linebacker Trezmen Marshall (15) and defensive back Malaki Starks (24) celebrate against the TCU Horned Frogs during the CFP national championship game at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
  • QB Tyler Buchner (transfer portal, Notre Dame)
  • QB Eli Holstein (four-star recruit)
  • QB Dylan Lonergan (four-star recruit)
  • RB Justice Hayes (four-star recruit)
  • RB Richard Young (four-star recruit)
  • WR Malik Benson (four-star recruit)
  • WR Jalen Hale (four-star recruit)
  • WR Jaren Hamilton (four-star recruit)
  • TE CJ Dippre (transfer portal, Maryland)
  • TE Ty Lockwood (four-star recruit)
  • OT Olaus Alinen (four-star recruit)
  • OT Wilkin Formby (four-star recruit)
  • OT Miles McVay (four-star recruit)
  • OT Kadyn Proctor (five-star recruit)
  • DL James Smith (four-star recruit)
  • EDGE Keon Keeley (five-star recruit)
  • EDGE Yhonzae Pierre (five-star recruit)
  • EDGE Qua Rassaw (four-star recruit)
  • EDGE Jordan Renaud (four-star recruit)
  • LB Trezmen Marshall (transfer portal, Georgia)
  • LB Justin Jefferson (transfer portal, four-star recruit)
  • CB Jahlil Hurley (four-star recruit)
  • CB Tony Mitchell (four-star recruit)
  • CB Desmond Ricks (four-star recruit)
  • S Caleb Downs (five-star recruit)

Recruit/transfer information can be found at 24/7 Sports

Notable Losses

Vikings Mock Draft: Minnesota Trades Up for a QB, but not the One You Think
Dec 31, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama quarterback Bryce Young (9) carries away the MVP trophy after throwing five touchdown passes during the 2022 Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome. Alabama defeated Kansas State 45-20. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
  • QB Bryce Young (NFL Draft, Carolina Panthers)
  • RB Jahmyr Gibbs (NFL Draft, Detroit Lions)
  • RB Trey Sanders (transfer portal, TCU)
  • WR JoJo Earle (transfer portal, TCU)
  • WR Christian Leary (transfer portal, Georgia Tech)
  • TE Cameron Latu (NFL Draft, San Francisco 49ers)
  • OT Damieon George (transfer portal, Florida)
  • OL Tyler Steen (NFL Draft, Philadelphia Eagles)
  • IOL Tanner Bowles (transfer portal, Kentucky)
  • LB Will Anderson (NFL Draft, Houston Texans)
  • LB Henry To’oTo’o (NFL Draft, Houston Texans)
  • CB Tre’Quon Fegans (transfer portal, USC)
  • CB Khyree Jackson (transfer portal, Oregon)
  • CB Jahquez Robinson (transfer portal, Colorado)
  • DB DeMarcco Hollins (NFL Draft, Atlanta Falcons)
  • S Jordan Battle (NFL Draft, Cincinnati Bengals)
  • S Brian Branch (NFL Draft, Detroit Lions)

Transfer information can be found at 24/7 Sports

Keys to 2023

Nov 5, 2022; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban looks on against the LSU Tigers during the first half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Which Alabama QB Emerges as the Starter?

Alabama finds itself in a position where they have to replace arguably the best QB in college football from a year ago in Bryce Young. The now Carolina Panther made magic happen on a regular basis and helped transform the Crimson Tide offense into a high-flying passing unit.

Now, Alabama turns to a three-headed QB battle between Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner as well as Jalen Milroe (entering his third year in the program) and Ty Simpson (a former five-star recruit). The winner of this battle will hope to take the program back to the promised land of national championship contention.

Welcome Back, Kevin Steele

For the third time, Kevin Steele is back in the Alabama program, and this time around, it is his second stint as the defensive coordinator. During his previous three years as DC for the Crimson Tide from 2007-09, they fielded fierce defenses, including the second-best scoring unit in 2009 that allowed just 11.7 points per game. They went on to win the BCS Championship that season. Hopefully, Steele finds the secret sauce once again.

Replacing Will Anderson…Somehow

Not only does Alabama have to replace Young at QB, they have to somehow replace the production of Will Anderson. During his career in the program, Anderson was an absolute menace to opposing offenses. Over three seasons, he recorded a ridiculous 58.5 tackles for loss and 34.5 sacks. His sack total set a record in the SEC. It certainly won’t be an easy task, especially in one season, but Alabama has plenty of talent waiting in the wings on the defensive side of the ball.

The Prediction

  1. W vs. Middle Tennessee
  2. W vs. Texas
  3. W @ UCF
  4. W vs. Ole Miss
  5. W @ Mississippi State
  6. W @ Texas A&M
  7. W vs. Arkansas
  8. L vs. Tennessee
  9. W vs. LSU
  10. W @ Kentucky
  11. W vs. Chattanooga
  12. W @ Auburn
    Overall Record: 11-1 (7-1)
Also Read:2023 College Football Catalog: Previewing the LSU Tigers

Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.

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By Josh Frey
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When ... More about Josh Frey