I read a lot of rival message boards during the season and one comment that I consistently see from the Bama fanbase is that they will not be able to compete in the coming seasons because they don't have the dudes along the defensive line like Georgia does to be able to be able to compete in the SEC. I took a look at their current recruiting class and they have two commits on the Defensive line (one 3-star and a 4-star Juco whose only other offer was Mississippi State):
Their depth chart looks very thin when you look at what they have returning:
Tim Keenan is projected to go as high as the 2nd round (likely 3rd-4th) so he could leave early. There are reports that LT Overton will enter the draft also which leaves Bama with Damon Payne Jr at the NT spot, James Smith and Edric Hill at the DT position.
They signed a number of players last cycle at the DE position but that room is looking very thin with the incoming freshman and only a handful on the depth chart. I know that they could go into the portal to get some depth but that is a tough way to fill out an entire room like they will need to do. I guess this will be something to keep an eye on going forward to see what they do and if they truly are recruiting as poorly as the perception says they are.
London Simmons | DT | Flowood, MS | 6'3" | 290 | 3-star | 5.7 | 6/16/24 VERBAL |
Kevonte Henry | DE | Norwalk, CA | 6'5" | 250 | 4-star | 5.8 | 10/14/24 VERBAL |
Their depth chart looks very thin when you look at what they have returning:
Defense | ||||||||||
BAN | 20 | Latham, Jah-Marien RS SR | 22 | Overton, LT JR/TR | ||||||
NT | 96 | Keenan III, Tim RS JR | 44 | Payne Jr., Damon RS JR | ||||||
DT | 50 | Smith, Tim GR | 23 | Smith, James SO | 94 | Hill, Edric RS FR |
Tim Keenan is projected to go as high as the 2nd round (likely 3rd-4th) so he could leave early. There are reports that LT Overton will enter the draft also which leaves Bama with Damon Payne Jr at the NT spot, James Smith and Edric Hill at the DT position.
They signed a number of players last cycle at the DE position but that room is looking very thin with the incoming freshman and only a handful on the depth chart. I know that they could go into the portal to get some depth but that is a tough way to fill out an entire room like they will need to do. I guess this will be something to keep an eye on going forward to see what they do and if they truly are recruiting as poorly as the perception says they are.