2020 Alabama Football Roster Update

Alabama football’s official roster on RollTide.com has recently updated to reflect a few number changes, the numbers given to the early enrollees, and a few other guys who have disappeared from the roster.

The first case is that of Markail Benton. The 4th year linebacker disappeared from the roster for about a day a few weeks ago, and a few reporting sites picked up on it, thinking it might mean he was transferring. He then reappeared, making everyone think it might have just been a website oversight.

Well, now he’s gone again. He’s not in the transfer portal and nobody’s heard anything. But twice can’t be a coincidence. He’s likely no higher than 5th on the depth chart with most everyone ahead of him being younger, so he’s a prime transfer candidate anyway.

Cornerback Scooby Carter, after entering the transfer portal and then dropping back out of it in December, entered the portal again and is no longer listed on the roster. So he’s likely gone.

The other curious case is Hunter Brannon. The once lowly-rated recruit had a DUI a couple of years ago and has never seen any playing time in his three seasons on campus. He’s not been mentioned to be in the transfer portal, but he’s also disappeared from the roster.

Finally, running back Jerome Ford and offensive tackle Scott Lashley have officially been removed as they’ve announced they’ll be transferring to Cincinnati and Mississippi State, respectively.

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Number Changes

Most of these changes are players trying to move down into the single digits as some other star players have graduated or moved on to the pros.

Defensive back Brandon Turnage moved from 14 to 7 to take Trevon Diggs’ number, Jalyn Armour-Davis moved from 22 to 5 to replace Shyheim Carter, and Eddie Smith left 25 to take the 15 vacated by Xavier McKinney.

Running back Brian Robinson, Jr. got in on the action to leave the 24 he’s been wearing for the last three years and take the 4 jersey vacated by Jerry Jeudy. Wide receiver Tyrell Shavers changed from 14 to 1, and wide receiver Xavier Williams moved from 9 to 3.

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Freshman Numbers

QB Bryce Young- 9

RB Jase McClellan- 21

RB Roydell Williams- 23

WR Traeshon Holden- 11

WR Thaiu Jones-Bell- 14

OL Seth McLaughlin- 56

LB Drew Sanders- 16

LB William Anderson, Jr.- 31

LB Jackson Bratton- 33

LB Demouy Kennedy- 37

LB Chris Braswell- 41

DB Ronald Williams, Jr (JUCO)- 22

DB Jahquez Robinson- 21

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Scholarship count

*denotes a signed recruit that won’t be on campus until this summer or fall.

QB- 4

Mac Jones, Taulia Tagovailoa, Paul Tyson, Bryce Young

Tagovailoa has been the subject of many rumors that he may transfer to LSU or Miami, but I think that’s nothing but pure speculation. There’s also talk that Tyson may not actually be on an athletic scholarship, but part of the Bryant scholarship due to his heritage.

RB- 7

Najee Harris, Brian Robinson, Jr., Trey Sanders, Keilan Robinson, Jase McClellan, Roydell Williams, Kyle Edwards*

I imagine the Tide rolls with all 7 of these guys, though if either of the freshmen solidly pass up Keilan Robinson on the depth chart this spring, he could be a transfer candidate.

WR- 10

Devonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, John Metchie, Slade Bolden, Tyrell Shavers, Xavier Williams, Chadarius Townsend, Thaiu Jones-Bell, Traeshon Holden, Javon Baker*

Depending on how things shake out this spring, I could see Shavers or Townsend moving somewhere else to get playing time as a senior.

TE- 7

Miller Forristall, Major Tennison, Carl Tucker*, Cameron Latu, Jahleel Billingsley, Michael Parker, Caden Clark*

I think Tennison will definitely be a potential grad transfer if Carl Tucker passes him up for that #2 role behind Forristall. Neither Parker or Latu have managed to get any playing time so far despite the injuries last season (and both were passed on the depth chart by the younger Billingsley), so both of them could also be potential transfer candidates.

OL- 15

Alex Leatherwood, Landon Dickerson, Deonte Brown, Evan Neal, Chris Owens, Emil Ekiyor, Darrian Dalcourt, Tommy Brown, Pierce Quick, Tanner Bowls, Kendall Randolph, Amari Kight, Seth McLaughlin, Javion Cohen*, Dameion George.

Randolph and Owens will both be competing for that 5th starting spot opened up by the departure of Jedrick Wills, Jr. If they get passed by Ekiyor or Dalcourt, then one or both might grad transfer. If that happens, though, it probably won’t be until late in the summer.

DL- 12

LaBryan Ray, DJ Dale, Christian Barmore, Justin Eboigbe, Phidarian Mathis, Byron Young, Braylen Ingraham, Stephon Wynn, Ishmael Sopsher, Jah-Marien Latham*, Timothy Smith*, Jamil Burroughs*.

This is a whole lot of depth for only three positions (and really only two full-time starting spots). Wynn saw almost no playing time last year as the younger trio of Dale, Young, and Eboigbe all passed him on the depth chart, so he’s the most likely transfer candidate. Mathis is also now on his 4th year, so he may be able to grad transfer.

ILB- 8

Dylan Moses, Joshua McMillon, Christian Harris, Shane Lee, Ale Kaho, Jaylen Moody, Jackson Bratton, Demouy Kennedy

OLB- 9

Christopher Allen, Ben Davis, King Mwikuta, Kevin Harris, Jarez Parks, Will Anderson, Drew Sanders, Chris Braswell, Quandarrius Robinson*

The two linebacker spots can be a bit fluid, but this is the best guess on separating the inside linebackers from the edge rusher types. And I’m not including Benton, though he could always return to the roster again.

McMillon is a 6th year senior that considered not even coming back, so if he doesn’t win a contributing role this offseason, he could very likely just hang up the cleats before the season starts. Jaylen Moody also hasn’t seen any playing time outside of special teams in his first two years, with both Lee and Harris a year younger than him, so he could be someone who looks to transfer.

Ben Davis has been a “transfer candidate” for three years now. At this point, I think he’s just happy to be at Alabama even if he never plays. Both outside linebacker jobs are wide open (though Allen is likely to be one of the two starters), so I don’t expect anyone here to transfer.

Cornerback- 8

Patrick Surtain II, Josh Jobe, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Eddie Smith, Ronald Williams, Jr. Marcus Banks, Brandon Turnage, Jahquez Robinson

I don’t really see anyone here being a potential departure.

Safety- 6

Daniel Wright, Jordan Battle, DeMarcco Hellams, Brian Branch*, Malachi Moore*, Kristian Story*

Story might wind up being a linebacker or quarterback, but we’ll leave him at safety for now. I don’t see any transfer candidates here either.

Special Teams- 4

Joseph Bulovas, Will Reichard, Skyler DeLong, Thomas Fletcher

Four special teams scholarships and the 2019 Alabama team was scared to kick a field goal over 40 yards and had to play two walk-on punters.

Great.

Bulovas and DeLong could be transfer candidates if they both wind up on the bench.

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That’s a total of 90 players. If Tyson doesn’t count, then they’re down to 89. And of all the potential transfers I mentioned, I imagine four will happen to get the Tide down to the 85-man limit by August.