Alabama football's best, most promising, most underrated players and more for 2025

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Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer enters his second season at the Crimson Tide helm with plenty of new faces in starting roles, beginning at the all-important quarterback position. It's a critical juncture for both coach and program, as UA comes off a 2024 failure to reach a 12-team College Football Playoff field, and its first season of four-plus losses since 2007. Who on this roster can Alabama rely on most? And who does it most need to emerge? Here's a look at some of the key players approaching fall practice, and why their performance is so important:
Alabama's most valuable player: OT Kadyn Proctor
Is the junior the best player on the Crimson Tide roster? I don't think so, but he's the most valuable because he's the one it can least afford to lose to an injury. Several Alabama teams in recent years have proven that an offense can't function consistently with only one high-quality offensive tackle. Lose Proctor, and it's conceivable this team won't have any.
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Alabama's best senior: LB Deontae Lawson
The lone returning team captain from last season, Lawson has something to prove to NFL scouts after a knee injury ended his season in Week 13 against Oklahoma. It's a lot to assume he won't have some rust to shake off, but when he's healthy, Lawson is outstanding.
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Alabama's best junior: C Parker Brailsford
Entering his second year as a starter, Brailsford was highly effective as a transfer from Washington last season. He's got All-SEC potential and is a perfect fit for a Ryan Grubb offense in which he's already got game experience.
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Alabama's best sophomore: WR Ryan Williams
After a spectacular freshman season that could have been even better with more consistent pass protection and quarterback play, Williams' place as UA's most dynamic talent is undisputed. For his encore performance, he'll see some action in the slot position.
Alabama's most improved player: DL Jeremiah Beaman
Spring practice observers raved about the move Beaman made up the depth chart, and it comes none too soon. The Crimson Tide hasn't had a truly dominant interior defensive lineman since Christian Barmore in 2020. He doesn't have to be Barmore to make a big contribution, but if he were to have a true breakout season, this defense could be suffocating.
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Alabama player with the most to prove: QB Ty Simpson
Who else but a (presumed) new starter at quarterback who's been around for four years and four offensive coordinators? The forward to this book reads like Mac Jones' career path, but Simpson still has to write all the chapters. Runners-up to Simpson for this nod include DL James Smith, WR Jaylen Mbakwe, OT Wilkin Formby, and DE LT Overton.
Alabama's most underrated player: TE Josh Cuevas
Although an injury caused Cuevas to miss the back end of spring drills, those close to the program don't believe Alabama will miss a beat with Cuevas rising from third-team status in 2024 to first team in 2025. He's added some size to improve his blocking, but he's more of a downfield receiving threat than either of his predecessors, CJ Dippre and Robbie Ouzts.
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Alabama's most promising transfer: LB Nikhai Hill-Green
In the absence of NFL first-round draft pick Jihaad Campbell, Alabama needed a third reliable inside linebacker who can rotate with the aforementioned Lawson, and returning senior Justin Jefferson. Enter Hill-Green, who made 82 stops — 12 of them for losses — at Colorado last year. He should see plenty of action, especially on early downs.
Alabama's most promising freshman: CB Dijon Lee
There are few things more exciting to a defensive coordinator than a cornerback who stands 6-foot-4 and has all the quickness of a smaller guy. That's what the Crimson Tide saw in Lee, a 5-star recruit, in spring practice. Freshman QB Keelon Russell could have this distinction in time, but for immediate, 2025 impact (including on special teams), Lee is the one to watch.
Tuscaloosa News sport columnist Chase Goodbread.
Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at [e-mail]. Follow on X.com @chasegoodbread.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football's best, most promising, most underrated players