TUSCALOOSA — During the media-viewing portion of Tuesday morning's fall practice, the University of Alabama's depth chart started to show clearer lines of competition, particularly among the running backs and across the offensive line.
Running back reps shuffle in limited viewing
Observers watched roughly 15 minutes — three periods — of practice, enough time to note subtle changes in the way the Tide are distributing handoff and drill repetitions. Over the last two team sessions, the order of running back reps has shifted, with Kevin Riley, a Tuscaloosa native, surfacing as the lead back during the group drill on Monday and continuing to get prominent reps Tuesday.
During the quarterback-running back handoff lines that the media observed, Alabama rotated multiple pairings. The lineup changed slightly when the team flipped the field and worked back in the opposite direction; in that second direction, Keelon Russell picked up an extra rep.
| Sequence (direction 1) | Sequence (direction 2) |
|---|---|
| Austin Mack — Kevin Riley | Austin Mack — Kevin Riley |
| Keelon Russell — AK Dear | Keelon Russell — AK Dear |
| Jett Thomalla — Trae’shawn Brown | Jett Thomalla — Trae’shawn Brown |
| Tayden — Evan Kaawa | Tayden — Evan Kaawa |
| Khalifa Keith — John Gazzaniga | Khalifa Keith — Daniel Hill |
| Jett Thomalla — Daniel Hill | Keelon Russell — EJ Crowell |
Those brief repetitions suggest Alabama’s coaching staff is still evaluating the depth chart and mixing personnel through game-like exchanges. Observers noted that Russell has frequently been the quarterback getting an extra rep with the sixth running back in recent practices; whether that indicates anything definitive about role or rotation remains unclear, but it is a pattern worth watching as evaluations continue.
Offensive line competition takes shape
Alabama’s offensive line work is usually performed in a part of the facility that is tough for reporters to see, but Tuesday’s use of practice fields two and three opened a window into the front-five pecking order. In every drill available to the media, the first five linemen who received reps were:
- Jackson Lloyd
- Mal Waldrep Jr. (left guard candidate)
- Racin Delgatty (center)
- Michael Carroll (right guard)
- Jayvin James (right tackle)
Coaches have offered praise for Waldrep during early availability, and he appears to be a leading contender at left guard. He is listed as competing with William Sanders, who spent the practice pairing with freshman tackle Jared Graham during the media window.
Those early reps line up with what offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has said publicly about the offensive line competition: several jobs remain unsettled, and coaches are using live rep distribution to assess consistency and chemistry across the unit.
What this means for the roster and fans
For Alabama fans tracking position battles, Tuesday’s session reinforced two themes: depth is being actively evaluated, and some players are beginning to separate themselves through rep order. The running back rotation appears fluid, with multiple players getting opportunities in handoff drills, while the interior offensive line is moving toward a more defined starting group based on early drill reps.
- Monday and Tuesday practice footage suggests increased competition at running back rather than a single obvious frontrunner.
- Waldrep, Delgatty and Carroll are regularly getting early offensive line reps in drills that were visible to the media.
- Coaches are likely saving final decisions for scrimmage and further camp evaluations.
Alabama is scheduled to hold its first scrimmage later this week. Those who want to monitor the evolving battles should pay attention to how reps shift once live contact increases and situational sequences are introduced. Coaches, including head coach Kalen DeBoer, typically provide more insight after scrimmages, and reporters expect to ask about patterns such as the extra reps for Keelon Russell when availability is given later this week.
For locals and season-ticket holders planning to follow the team closely, this stretch of camp will be crucial for clarifying roles and projecting early-season rotations.
