Also new to the team is walk-on backup quarterback Bubba Thompson, a former McGill-Toolen star who spent the last eight years playing professional baseball. The 26-year-old Thompson was a first-round pick of the Texas Rangers in 2017, and played a total of 109 major-league games with the Rangers and Cincinnati Reds from 2022-24.

Ideally, Alabama would be at full tilt during spring practice, but the chance to build depth is a silver lining.

A transfer and freshman started at corner for the Crimson Tide last season, and freshman Dijon Lee and Utah transfer Cam Calhoun are impressing coaches and teammates at the start of spring camp.