CBS Sports identifies 'real position of need' for Alabama football

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Alabama football‘s biggest battle as it reaches the final days of spring practice isn’t at quarterback. It’s at offensive line.

That’s the opinion of CBS Sports, which listed the Crimson Tide among seven College Football Playoff contenders in 2026 with the biggest non-QB competitions this spring.

Alabama joined Georgia, Texas, Michigan, Ohio State, Southern California and Washington among playoff contenders that CBS Sports identified as having critical position group competitions as the spring practice window winds down.

CBS Sports veteran college football analyst Chip Patterson called the offensive line the biggest position of need for the Crimson Tide — more so than the quarterback competition between five-star Keelon Russell and redshirt junior Austin Mack, who are replacing Ty Simpson.

Patterson said of Alabama’s offensive line:

“Mack and Russell are both talented and carry high ceilings, but if Alabama can’t be better up front, then the offense will never reach its full potential. Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb acknowledged as much with their actions this offseason, totally rebooting the room with a change at position coach (Chris Kapilovic is out, Adrian Klemm is in) and a wholesale turnover of personnel that saw six of the seven players who started in 2025 leave via the NFL Draft or transfer portal.”

The biggest name not returning on the offensive line is projected first-round pick Kadyn Proctor, who anchored the left tackle position in Ryan Grubb’s offense last fall.

Patterson notes the only returning starter in the trenches for Alabama is Michael Carroll, the former five-star recruit and top interior lineman in the 2025 recruiting class. Carroll made six starts in 2025 and saw action at both tackle and guard positions in 14 games.

“(T)he only presumed starter is Jackson Lloyd, a redshirt freshman who was a four-star coming out of high school in California, taking over Kadyn Proctor’s spot at left tackle. Carroll’s versatility could allow him to play guard or tackle on the right side, leaving the offensive staff with several ways to mix and match a group of about 7-8 players who are looking to raise the standard for line play in Tuscaloosa. The inability to block and establish the run up front was an Achilles heel that put Ty Simpson in some tough spots last year, so the hope is that the competition to fill spots on a re-tooled line will produce more advantageous situations for whoever wins the quarterback battle heading into Week 1 against ECU.” –Chip Patterson, CBS Sports.

Alabama’s annual A-Day spring football game begins at 1 p.m. CT Saturday from Bryant-Denny Stadium. The scrimmage will last two hours. Admission to A-Day is free.

Alabama football schedule 2026

Here’s a look at Alabama football’s 2026 regular season schedule. Kickoff times and TV channel designations have not been announced.

  • Sept. 5: vs. East Carolina
  • Sept. 12: at Kentucky
  • Sept. 19: vs. Florida State
  • Sept. 26: vs. South Carolina
  • Oct. 3: at Mississippi State
  • Oct. 10: vs. Georgia
  • Oct. 17: at Tennessee
  • Oct. 24: vs. Texas A&M
  • Nov. 7: at LSU
  • Nov. 14: at Vanderbilt
  • Nov. 21: vs. Chattanooga
  • Nov. 28: vs. Auburn

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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football’s ‘position of need’ isn’t quarterback, CBS Sports

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