17-07-2025
Can Alabama football OL win Joe Moore Award? Four questions after 2025 SEC media days
Talking season commenced from Atlanta on July 16 with Kalen DeBoer, Tim Keenan III, Deontae Lawson and Kadyn Proctor each sharing expectations for what Alabama football could do in 2025.
With SEC media days complete for the Crimson Tide, and fall camp approaching quickly, which storylines remain?
Here are four Alabama football questions that emerged from SEC media days.
Once Alabama football names QB starter, how long of a leash will he have?
Whenever DeBoer was asked about the Alabama quarterback battle, he exuded confidence. He proved to be extremely complimentary of Ty Simpson, Austin Mack and Keelon Russell, sharing how each has grown heading into fall.
Despite the inexperience of the room, and despite the lack of game reps, DeBoer is assured that Alabama has always had its next leader of the Crimson Tide offense, not turning to the NCAA transfer portal to secure a rental for the 2025 season.
And as he spoke about the battle, DeBoer seemed to give an indication about what would happen once a starting quarterback is officially named.
'That's where consistency, continuity, them being comfortable with Ryan Grubb, Nick Sheridan, Mitch Dahlen, senior analyst on our staff, myself. Them knowing that we believe in you,' DeBoer said. 'Just be you, go out there and don't try to do too much. Just go execute what you're supposed to.'
DeBoer and his Alabama staff will obviously show trust in whoever is named the starter. But could this statement indicate that the Crimson Tide won't be too quick to pull the trigger if its starting quarterback struggles out of the gate? Time will tell.
Can Alabama have a Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line?
When Keenan committed to Alabama, he knew he would be challenged up front. The defensive lineman feels the exact same way heading into Year 5 against the Crimson Tide's offensive line.
'Going against guys like those guys, they're hard workers, they're strong, fast,' Keenan said. 'It's something to see.'
When Kadyn Proctor, the consistent 2026 NFL mock draft first-round pick, talks about his upcoming season with the Crimson Tide offensive line, it's never in the context of what he can personally do. It's always about the collective. And the unit's sights are set high.
'The Joe Moore Award is definitely something that we want to win,' Proctor said. 'That's really not personal. That's all of us. I want to see the whole offensive line succeed.'
Since the award's inception in 2015, given to the best offensive line in college football, Alabama has won twice: 2015 and 2020. If the Crimson Tide wins in 2025, it would be the first team to win it three times. Can the group of Proctor, Wilkin Formby, Jaeden Roberts, Parker Brailsford and, likely, either Geno VanDeMark and Kam Dewberry be the group to make history?
Can Alabama defense bring pressure?
DeBoer has high expectations for his defense as a whole. But he wants a level of pressure up front to match Alabama's ball-hawk reputation in the secondary.
It's not just pressure from blitzes or from more players at the line of scrimmage either. It's pressure solely brought from athleticism. And DeBoer feels he has the pieces to do it.
'I think guys like LT Overton jump out with me,' DeBoer said. 'LT was there a lot last year. Those are the next steps you want to take. Not just he, but a lot of guys finishing the plays. LT has it in him, the skillset. He has those instincts. Continues to hone in on taking it to the next level.'
To develop that pressure, Keenan said it comes down to players trusting their coaching, to 'do what we know to do' from Alabama defensive line coach Freddie Roach.
'(Roach is) going to get on your tail, now. Ain't no slacking, but it's all about the love,' Keenan said. 'He wants you to have that generational wealth. He wants you to be the best player ever and be that dominant force.'
Does Alabama have a special teams problem?
DeBoer has answers for both Alabama's offense and defense heading into the 2025 season. When it comes to special teams, the Crimson Tide coach did not sugarcoat things.
'That's the tricky one,' DeBoer said.
Alabama is tasked with replacing its kicker, punter and long snapper from the 2024 team. While Conor Talty, Alabama's kickoff man from 2024, is set to slide into replace Graham Nicholson, DeBoer said he still has questions about who will replace James Burnip, 'the best punter I have ever had.' Heading into fall, Alabama will have true freshman Alex Asparuhov, who spent the spring rehabbing an injury, and Colorado School of Mines transfer Blake Doud battling for the starting punting job.
Special teams consistency could be a main storyline that could make or break Alabama in 2025.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@ or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Four Alabama football questions after 2025 SEC media days
