On Wednesday, Alabama football started getting ready for their 2025 season opening against Florida State. Preseason camp for the Crimson Tide began on what was expected to be a sweltering day in Tuscaloosa.
This season, there are plenty of storylines coming into camp. A quarterback competition is one of the ongoing position battles at UA.
An early session of the practice, which kicked off Kalen DeBoer’s second camp as head coach of the Crimson Tide, was open to reporters. What we observed in the field is shown here.
Alabama football practice observations
At the start of the sixth practice period, reporters were released.
— The UA hydration crew was working diligently since the temperature in Tuscaloosa had already reached 85 degrees.
On the first practice day, the players were decked up in shorts, jerseys, and helmets.
— Kanye West’s Power, Paramore’s Ain’t It Fun, and AC/DC’s Thunderstruck were on the playlist for Wednesday’s practice.
Media representatives did not watch any 11-on-11 football games. During the times that reporters may observe, the Crimson Tide mostly practiced both individual and group drills.
— No Alabama players other than the quarterbacks were seen sporting black non-contact jerseys.
— Scholarship tight ends returned to practice for the Crimson Tide. A string of injuries left UA with just Jay Lindsey for spring practice. Top contributors at the position, such as Josh Cuevas, Danny Lewis Jr., and Marshall Pritchett, who had a big brace on his left leg, were among the tight end group seen practicing with TE coach Bryan Ellis.
The quarterback fight was predictable. Drills were led by Ty Simpson, Austin Mack, and Keelon Russell. According to Crimson Tide coaches, Simpson is in the lead and would start if the season began after spring practice.
Geno VanDeMark seemed to be jogging with the first group at left guard during offensive line drills. Second place went to Kam Dewberry, who transferred from Texas A&M this summer. During preseason camp, those two are competing to replace Tyler Booker as the starting quarterback.
— Deontae Lawson, a linebacker who missed spring football due to an ACL injury that ended his 2024 season, was out on the field and appeared to be taking part in drills. Like the rest of the defense, Lawson wore a standard white jersey and wore a knee brace.
As usual, DeBoer worked mostly with Alabama’s quarterbacks. The majority of the observation period was spent with Freddie Roach and the UA defensive lineman, with defensive coordinator Kane Wommack already perspiring through his hoodie.
— During the eighth period, Tim Keenan led the DL in working on pursuit drills with Roach. Roach pleaded with his players to haul ass, pausing for a moment to correct the technique of rookie Steve Bolo Mboumoua.
— Following the eighth period, media observation time came to a close.
See more from AL.com’s Crimson Tide beat writers
-
Kalen DeBoer said this Alabama QB should make the most progress in camp
-
Could Alabama football play someone both ways like Travis Hunter? What Kalen DeBoer said
-
What we saw from Ty Simpson, Keelon Russell, Austin Mack in Alabama s first preseason practice
-
These 26 states are home to people named for Paul Bear Bryant
-
What Florida State s Gus Malzahn said about Alabama football, Thomas Castellanos
