• What was learned from football’s 2023 open fall practice •

♦ 2023 Bama Football 2023 ♦  Tuscaloosa, AL Bryant-Denny Stadium opened up for the first time this fall with a pristine playing surface ready for Alabam football’s Fan Day. The Crimson Tide took the field surrounded by a sparse crowd on Saturday afternoon. After the event, subscribers to the Tide’s NIL-arm Yea Alabama were able to get autographs on the field. The three primary contenders for Alabama’s starting quarterback job expectedly split reps, as head coach Nick Saban forecasted earlier this week. It was hard to evaluate the throwers during the team’s 11-on-11 scrimmage as the Tide defensive front was able to generate pressure, particularly from Deontae Lawson and Chris Braswell. But if one had to award a winner, Simpson’s deep pass Isaiah Bond was likely the highlight. For the quarterbacks-center pairings:  Milroe was with McLaughlin, Simpson with Darrian Dalcourt and Buchner with Ferguson. Dalcourt also got reps at left guard. No single performance was going to make Saban grab the microphone and crown a starter. The cake isn’t ready yet. Still, a performance on the field in nearly 100-degree weather should help it bake. Offensive line pairings emerge: There’s certainty on the right side of Alabama’s offensive line with returners JC Latham at tackle and Tyler Booker at guard. Seth McLaughlin also earned a majority of the first-team reps at center. On the left side of the line, however, Alabama had new faces with Elijah Pritchett and Terrence Ferguson II. New faces debut in secondary: A carryover from the spring, freshman Caleb Downs continued to play safety with the first team. Elsewhere, Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry were at cornerback. Malachi Moore was at safety. The surprise, though, was junior Devonta Smith playing alongside Downs in the secondary for a portion of practice. • ROLLING WITH THE TIDE •