Five Returning Players We’re Watching at A-Day for Alabama Football

Alabama's annual A-Day scrimmage is scheduled to take place tomorrow, Saturday, April 11, beginning at 1:00 p.m. inside Bryant-Denny Stadium here in Tuscaloosa. The scrimmage will last two hours and will provide fans their first look at the 2026 rendition of the Crimson Tide's roster.

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While Alabama added 46 new faces to the roster from a season ago, several returning players are looking to increase their role with the Crimson Tide from last season, with the quarterback competition between Austin Mack and Keelon Russell taking center stage on Saturday. Saturday's scrimmage should provide insight as to where things stand in not only the quarterback battle, but a few other position battles taking place this spring. Who are five returning players we're keeping an eye on for A-Day tomorrow afternoon?

Keelon Russell, Quarterback (Redshirt Freshman)

Redshirt freshman quarterback Keelon Russell is competing with Austin Mack for the Crimson Tide's starting quarterback competition, and the former five-star has been explosive this spring. While it's highly unlikely that a starter is named coming out of A-Day, fans will get their first look at the quarterback competition on Saturday. Russell has all the tools and talent to be a starter at Alabama, but consistency is something that needs to improve from the second-year player, with Russell throwing two pick-sixes in the Tide's first two spring scrimmages. If the former five-star phenom can limit mistakes and consistently lead the offense down the field on Saturday, it could turn the tide in Alabama's quarterback competition late in spring.

Austin Mack, Quarterback (Redshirt Junior)

Crimson Tide Photos / UA Athletics

The other half of the Tide's quarterback battle features redshirt junior Austin Mack, who is entering his fourth season in Kalen DeBoer's offensive scheme. While Alabama ran all of last season listing both Austin Mack and Keelon Russell as the backup quarterback, Mack was the second quarterback to see the field all season, filling in for Ty Simpson whenever Simpson wasn't on the field, and finishing the second half of the Rose Bowl against Indiana when Simpson went down with a rib injury early in the second half.

If Alabama had to play East Carolina tomorrow, Mack would likely get the start. He's more consistently led the Crimson Tide's offense down the field in the two previous scrimmages, but hasn't been without blemish, throwing two interceptions in last Friday's scrimmage against Alabama's stout secondary. Throwing on the run has been an area where Mack needs to improve, according to sources who have been at practice, but his 6-foot-6 stature allows him to tower over the offensive line and find open receivers downfield. Both quarterbacks will be in the spotlight on Saturday.

Lotzeir Brooks, Wide Receiver (Sophomore)

Brooks made highlight plays last spring and fall before the season, and was a consistent weapon for Ty Simpson, bursting onto the scene late in the season before securing his first two career touchdowns in the College Football Playoffs against the Oklahoma Sooners. Brooks was a rotational piece in Alabama's receiving corps last season, but with the departures of Germie Bernard to the NFL and Isaiah Horton via the transfer portal, the door is wide open for Brooks to see increased action in year two. His skill set mostly aligns with what Alabama wants out of a slot receiver, and that's where Brooks made his biggest impact in Norman last December. I expect a big season from the sophomore New Jersey native, and if Alabama's offense produces explosives on A-Day, I expect Brooks to be involved.

Justin Hill, Wolf Linebacker (Sophomore)

Crimson Tide Photos / UA Athletics

Hill started last season fourth on Alabama's Wolf depth chart, and ended the season taking the second-most snaps at the position, only behind Yhonzae Pierre. Hill may not be able to unseat Pierre as the starter, but with how often Alabama rotates along the front four, I still expect Hill to see significant snaps. He can drop in coverage with the best of them, and has been working on his pass-rush skill set this offseason as Alabama's second linebacker. The Tide has worked several formations that put Hill and Pierre on the field at the same time, and I expect a big season out of the Cincinnati, Ohio, native. Alabama has a longstanding history of dominant outside linebackers, and Pierre (deservedly) will garner much of the spotlight. Preseason magazines make a big deal about "returning starters," but when talking about Alabama's outside linebacker room for 2027, the Tide will be set up in a great spot next season with Justin Hill.

Ivan Taylor, Defensive Back (Sophomore)

Crimson Tide Photos / UA Athletics

The son of former Pittsburgh Steelers legend Ike Taylor, Ivan Taylor, saw action in all 15 games for the Crimson Tide last season, earning an increased role on defense late in the year. Defensive back Keon Sabb named Taylor first when asked last week, which young guys have impressed him so far through spring ball. Alabama isn't afraid to rotate in the secondary, and Taylor is poised to see much more action in his second year with the Crimson Tide. "He's a guy that keys into any little detail," Sabb said of Taylor last week. "When you see that from a young guy, it's really important."

With Bray Hubbard and Keon Sabb back in Tuscaloosa for their final seasons of eligibility, it may be hard for Taylor to see the field, but the attention to detail and making big plays in practice and scrimmages (Taylor had an interception of Austin Mack in Alabama's second spring scrimmage last week) will make it hard to keep him off the field in the Fall. Any reps Taylor gets this season will only help him in 2027, when he'll likely compete for a starting job in the Tide's secondary.

A-Day will start tomorrow, April 11, at 1:00 p.m. in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.