Alabama Reloads

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Since Nick Saban recorded a 7-6 record his first year at Alabama (2007), the Tide has posted a 61-7 record with 3 national championships. Obviously recruiting has had a lot to do with Alabama's success. This recruiting cycle, Alabama reloaded again and has restocked an already solid group of talented players. Taking a look at the offense.

QUARTERBACK

AJ McCarron will return for his senior season, and that settles who will start. He has proven durable, not missing a start in his two years with the first team. Including signees Cooper Bateman and Parker McLeod, there are five scholarship quarterbacks behind McCarron, and all are a question mark. Saban has hinted he has so many because the guys who have been there have had their chance and aren't showing they have what the Tide needs. The highly regarded Bateman (Utah) and McLeod (Georgia) are about the same size as McCarron and have the same type intelligence to run the offense. Although they might redshirt this year, it's hard to imagine they won't get a long look by Saban and staff.

RUNNING BACKS

Rising sophomore T.J. Yeldon rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season as a freshman and should inherit the starting job. There is a glut of talented runners competing for the second team spot. Sophomore to be Kenyan Drake showed talent in several fourth quarter appearances this past season, allthough it will be interesting to see how 6-3, 245 pound Derrick Henry, one of the 2013 recruits adjusts to college football. Henry is the all-time leading rusher in high school history and will compete with three other top running back recruits.

RECEIVER

Three year TE starter Michael Williams will be in the NFL next season. Right now, there is not an obvious replacement from among the returning players. Incoming freshman O.J. Howard, the No. 1 prep tight end in the nation, could compete for immediate playing time. At receiver, Alabama gets everybody back, including rising sophomore star Amari Cooper and Chris Black, who sat out last season with a shoulder injury. Newcomers Robert Foster and Rabeem Falkins could join the rotation, too. Folks, if Black can stay healthy...look out, he's that good.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Alabama has lost three All-Americans in center Barrett Jones, guard Chance Warmack and tackle D.J. Fluker, and this isn't a position in which true freshmen can fill gaps immediately. However, don't cry for Bama's 2013 offensive line. Leon Brown (6-6, 308) should give Alabama a replacement for Fluker at right tackle. Right guard Anthony Steen and left tackle Cyrus Kouandjio are back, and rising sophomore Ryan Kelly appears ready to play center. Rising junior Chad Lindsey was Warmack's backup at guard.

*next...defense reloads.

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DEFENSE: Alabama has been one of the best defenses in the country the past five years and will be strong again during the 2013 season. The defense suffered some key losses, but there are some stud athletes waiting to step in.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Alabama has lost three of its top four players to graduation in Jesse Williams, Daminon Square and Quinton Dial. Ed Stinson, a surprise starter of all 14 games at end in 2012 is back to provide consistency. Geoffrey Pagan is a star in the making at end, and Brandon Ivory appears ready to inherit Williams' spot at noseguard. Incoming freshmen Darius Page, Dee Liner and A'Shawn Robinson have a chance to compete for some playing time, especially since Alabama needs to rebuild its depth.

LINEBACKER

Alabama couldn't be in better shape at this position. All-American inside linebacker C.J. Mosley will return for his senior season. Inside linebacker Trey DePriest and outside linebackers Adrian Hubbard and Xzavier Dickson will be juniors. They could be the best set of linebackers in the SEC...and perhaps the country. Incoming fresman Reuben Foster should fit in somewhere. Another incoming fresman, Jonathan Allen, will push Hubbard and Dickson for playing time on the outside. If nothing else, Foster and Allen will get plenty of special teams play. The linebacker position is strong with plenty of depth.

SECONDARY

Alabama returns starting cornerback Deon Belue and three safeties who played a lot in Vinnie Sunseri, HaHa Clinton-Dix and Nick Perry. In addition, cornerbacks John Fulton and Geno Smith played plenty and are back. Also, rising sophomore safety Landon Collins (stud) should land somewhere in the playing rotation after a year as a special teams star. However, these days, defenses routinely need to play five and six defensive backs at a time, and they run so much, it's hard to play the same five or six guys. Saban recruited three promising cornerbacks in Eddie Jackson, Maurice Smith and Jonathan Cook. Certainly, all three will get yelled at a lot by their position coach (Saban), but don't be surprised if someone rises up and is contributing at some point this season.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Alabama had the same five guys handling the biggest roles for the past three seasons: punter Cody Mandell, short field goal kicker Jeremy Shelly, long field goal kicker and kickoff man Cody Foster, long snaper Carson Tinker and holder AJ McCarron. Mandell, Foster and McCarron are back, but Shelley and Tinker have graduated. Foster and redshirt freshman Adam Griffith will battle over his job, and incoming freshman Cole Mazza is the favorite to win the long snapping job. Christian Jones struggled at times fielding punts, and he will have competition from Dee Hart and Chris Black. Incoming freshman ArDarius Stewart will also get a good look for returning kicks.

Alabama's recruiting classes have been some of the best in the country and has allowed the Tide to just reload rather than rebuilding. This 2013 class will allow the process to continue.