Alabama Football 2023 Season Preview: Starting Lineup, Predictions & More
By Matt Melton
Coming off an 11-2 season in which they missed the College Football Playoff for only the second time since its inception in 2014, the focus for Alabama football as we enter the 2023 campaign is on returning to playing for a national championship.
A team that will certainly have enough talent to do just that, here is a season preview for the 2023 Alabama Crimson Tide, which includes returning players, new faces, predictions, and more.
Alabama Football 2023 Season Preview: Starting Lineup, Predictions & More
Alabama Football Key Losses
As with any other season, Alabama is tasked with replacing multiple impact players on both sides of the ball. However, as we enter the 2023 season, there are arguably two names, one on offense and defense, that likely stick out above the rest.
Offense
- QB Bryce Young
- RB Jahmyr Gibbs
- TE Cameron Latu
- OT Tyler Steen
- OG Javion Cohen
- OG Emil Ekiyor Jr.
Beginning with Alabama’s offense, which also has to replace offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, the most glaring loss is that of former 2021 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Bryce Young, as he was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Young is not the only key loss in the backfield however, as the Crimson Tide will also have to replace Jahmyr Gibbs, who led Alabama in rushing a year ago after transferring from Georgia Tech.
Alongside those two, Alabama has multiple losses along the offensive line, as Tyler Steen and Emil Ekiyor Jr. were both lost to the NFL, while starting left guard Javion Cohen transferred to Miami. A two-year starter at tight end was also lost to the NFL in Cameron Latu.
Defense
- OLB Will Anderson Jr.
- ILB Henry To’oTo’o
- S DeMarcco Hellams
- S Brian Branch
- S Jordan Battle
- DT Byron Young
- ILB Jaylen Moody
The Crimson Tide’s defense will also have to replace defensive coordinator Pete Golding, as well as their top player on that side of the ball in outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr., who is the back-to-back SEC Defensive Player of the Year. A few other notable losses come at inside linebacker as well, where both Henry To’oTo’o and Jaylen Moody will have to be replaced.
Alabama has also lost one of the top defensive linemen to the NFL in tackle Byron Young, as well as all three starters at safety. Those names included top tacklers such as DeMarcco Hellams, Brian Branch, and Jordan Battle.