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Tuscaloosa, AL ♦ What’s next for Alabama, coaching staff? ♦
The majority of Alabama’s offseason roster movement has already happened, in the case of its 11 scholarship players entering the transfer portal, or is expected to happen soon, in the case of the juniors declaring for the NFL draft.
But there are some personnel questions that remain. Junior cornerback Eli Ricks and fifth-year wide receiver Tyler Harrell, both transfer additions last offseason, both have yet to reveal their future plans. Alabama has added one incoming transfer in Maryland tight end CJ Dippre, but will it dip into the transfer portal again and fill roster holes with external players like it did a year ago? And will any more Alabama players enter the transfer portal after the bowl game? The window for underclassmen closes Jan. 18, but another will open from April 15-30, after spring practices start to answer questions about the 2023 depth chart. The more immediate questions involves the coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Bill O’Briens contract expires after this season and NFL jobs could open after that league’s regular season finishes next weekend. Safeties coach Charles Kelly has already joined Colorado’s staff as defensive coordinator, but will any other assistants leave the staff or find jobs elsewhere? The coming days and weeks will provide answers to all of those questions. What might not be answered that quickly: who is Alabama’s starting quarterback in 2023? With Young opting to play in the bowl game, the Tide’s top two options for next season, Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson, were again mostly spectators to Youngs greatness. Milroe’s playing time against Arkansas and Texas A&M makes him more of a known quantity than Simpson, the five-star freshman who attempted five passes in the regular season -- playing less than Young did as Mac Jones backup in 2020. The new quarterback will need to re-build a connection with his receivers that Young mastered by his assumed final game Saturday. Burton, Brooks, Bond and fellow freshman Kobe Prentice -- who shook a defender for a 47-yard touchdown on the final play of the third quarter -- all caught touchdown passes from Young. All are expected to return next season, too. |
Sunday, January 1, 2023
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