The A-Day Game will have a different feel in 2024.
Kalen DeBoer takes over for legendary coach Nick Saban, who traditionally wore a pink suit coat and walked up and down the field during the spring game. That is the biggest change for the Crimson Tide.
Still, the defending SEC champions should draw a huge crowd for Saturday’s game in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
What will the offense look like under DeBoer and offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan? Who is the supporting cast around quarterback Jalen Milroe – who emerged as a late-season Heisman Trophy candidate in 2023? Will Saban be at the game?
The A-Day spring game is 4 p.m. ET Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN.
A preview of this year’s game with all the need-to-know information.
MORE: Ranking the SEC quarterbacks for 2024
When is Alabama’s spring game?
How to watch Alabama spring game
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TV: ESPN
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Live stream: Fubo
The Alabama spring game will be televised on ESPN and can be streamed on the ESPN app and Fubo.
Will Nick Saban be at the Alabama spring game?
According to the Tuscaloosa News, Saban will attend the Alabama spring game. He is scheduled to participate in the Walk of Fame ceremony at the Denny Chimes tower along with the 2023 team captains. Saban will be an analyst for ESPN’s “College GameDay” this season. With ESPN televising the game, it will be interesting to see how much Saban is in the booth for the spring game.
Three things to watch in Alabama’s spring game
How will Jalen Milroe fit in Kalen DeBoer’s offense?
Milroe was in a battle for the starting job at the A-Day game last season, and that quarterback question did not get answered until midseason. Now, Milroe is the clear-cut starter, and the new-look offense should take advantage of that skill-set.
At Washington, Michael Penix Jr. was one of the best deep-ball passers in college football last season. Penix Jr. had a 43.6% completion percentage with 16 TDs and seven interceptions on passes of 20 yards or more. Milroe was 52.2% with 16 TDs and one interception in the same situation. If Milroe is an even better deep-ball passer in this offense, then he will be right back in the Heisman Trophy discussion.
Where is improvement needed? In the intermediate game. Penix was 63.7% with 12 TDs and four interceptions in those passes from 11-20 yards. Milroe was 52.3% with four TDs and four interceptions. Keep an eye on Milroe’s intermediate throws in this game. That will offer some signs for next season.
Who steps up at receiver for Alabama?
Alabama’s top three receivers from last season are gone. Jermaine Burton is off to the 2024 NFL Draft, and Isaiah Bond and Amari Niblack transferred to Texas.
Who steps up at receiver? Washington transfer Germie Bernard had 34 catches for 419 yards and two TDs. That is more than any returning Crimson Tide option.
Kobe Prentice, who had 18 catches for 314 yards and two TDs, is the top returner. Kendrick Law (15 catches, 135 yards) had a strong spring game last season, and Jalen Hale (5 catches, 148 yards) should be a good fit in the new offense as a home-run hitter. Tight end CJ Dippre (11 catches, 187 yards) also is in the mix. DeBoer arguably had the best receiver room in the FBS last season with Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan and Ja’Lynn Polk.
How will he try to replicate that at Alabama with the talent available? It would not be a surprise if Alabama brings in a post-spring transfer or two.
Who thrives in Kane Wommack’s 4-2-5 defense?
New defensive coordinator Kane Wommack runs a 4-2-5, and that is going to be an adjustment for the personnel.
The first question: Who is getting to the quarterback? The Crimson Tide had Will Anderson in 2022 and Dallas Turner in 2023. Quandarrius Robinson – a fifth-year senior who had 1.5 sacks last season – could be in line for a breakout season in this system. Linebacker Deontate Lawson is the top returning linebacker, and the secondary should get a boost from USC transfer Domani Jackson.
It’s going to be a little bit of a different look, and it’s a high standard. South Alabama’s defense allowed 21.2 points per game the last two seasons. Alabama allowed more points per game than that only one time after Saban’s first season with the Crimson Tide in 2007.
Alabama freshmen to watch in spring game
Caleb Odom, WR/TE
Odom (6-5, 215) was recruited as a tight end, but he is a potential mismatch for opposing defenses at receiver for the Crimson Tide. Teammate Kendrick Law compared Odom to Steelers receiver George Pickens.
Jeremiah Beaman, DE
Beaman, a 6-foot-5, 265-pound defensive end from Parker (Birmingham) High School, will wear No. 92 at Alabama. He will have some work to do to earn playing time in a deep defensive-line rotation, but in a new defensive system he will have a chance to stand out.
Jaylen Mbawke, CB
Mbawke was the No. 2 cornerback recruit in the country from Clay-Chalkville (Pinson, Ala.) High School, and he is competing with freshman Xavier Mincey and Zabien Brown for playing time. How do those newcomers fit in Wommack’s defense?
