There will be a new face to lead the Alabama football team under center this upcoming season.
While Alabama football fans don't believe the dynasty is dead, they are now coming up on three years without a national championship victory.
To be fair, Alabama will once again be on the shortlist of teams who can realistically win the national championship. This is because the Crimson Tide recruit phenomenally under Nick Saban and make one good hire after another after a top-flight coordinator of theirs leaves for a better job. Of course, he will be breaking in a new quarterback this season with Bryce Young in the NFL.
Here is some of the juiciest news about the Crimson Tide as we head into the final week of May.
Alabama football rumors: What is going on with the Crimson Tide of late?
Alabama football rumors: Why Kevin Steele returned to Tuscaloosa a third time
It will be new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele's third time serving on Saban's coaching staff at Alabama. Steele left Miami after one season to replace Pete Golding, who flipped SEC West allegiances to go work for Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss. As one of the most respected defensive minds in the game today, it is pretty simple as to why Steele came back: He respects the process of Saban.
While Alabama tried to hire back its former defensive coordinator and Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt, going with Steele for the time being seems to be a swell idea. We know what were are getting out of him and his defense. Saban specializes in coaching of defensive backs, whereas Steele is adept at generating pressure from the defensive front seven. This is a pairing that works.
With so much uncertainty and inexperience in the grand scheme of things with new, 30-something offensive coordinator Tommy Rees coming over from Notre Dame, Saban clearly wanted about as close to a sure thing as he could leading his defense. Since Golding's defense was largely hit or miss, look for Steele to redefine this Alabama front-seven that will make them great.
If Steele's defense can help bridge the gap with Rees' offense, Alabama can contend this season.
Alabama football rumors: 4-star DL Jeremiah Beaman commits to Crimson Tide
Alabama picked up an important four-star recruit in-state with Jeremiah Beaman rolling with the Crimson Tide on Sunday. The defensive lineman from Birmingham picked Alabama over the likes of Auburn, Clemson, Georgia and LSU. The 247Sports Composite has him as the No. 107 player nationally, the No. 13 defensive lineman and the No. 7 prospect from The Yellowhammer State.
Here is Beaman making it super official on Twitter Sunday evening with his Alabama commitment.
This is a big deal to keep a top prospect in-state and keep him away from the clutches of Auburn, Georgia and LSU. Beaman may not be contributing right away to the Alabama pass rush once he joins the program in 2024, but we do know that new defensive coordinator Kevin Steele likes to get after the opposing quarterback. An emphasis on pressure will create rotational opportunities.
Ultimately, it would say more about the state of the Alabama program than not if a blue-chipper from the state's biggest city decided not to come play for the flagship university's football team. As long as Alabama continues to string together one top-five recruiting class after another, we will continue to see the Saban era of Crimson Tide football provide us with championship aspirations.
Look for more and more top-flight recruits like Beaman to commit to Alabama later this summer.
Alabama football rumors: Where things stand in the three-man quarterback race
After spring practice, we still have no clue who will end up winning the Alabama starting quarterback job. Jalen Milroe was Bryce Young's primary backup last year and played well in stretches during the Arkansas game. Ty Simpson has the highest upside, but lacks experience. Factor in former Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner transferring over, and this could be fun!
It is going to come down to one of two things in the end: Who will make more big-time plays on the field and who will do a better job of taking care of the football? Personally, I like Milroe's explosiveness more than I do Simpson's right now. While Buchner is an interesting wrinkle, he has to get used to play at SEC speed after transferring over from Notre Dame, which is not that easy.
I would expect for Saban and new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees to keep this close to the vest. The longer this gets dragged out, the more I would expect for Milroe, or potentially even Buchner, to get the job over Simpson. Although I do envision all three probably play at some point this season, I just feel like Milroe's dynamism gives Alabama a better chance of getting to Atlanta.
Your guess is as good as mine or anyone else's, but Simpson not running away with it is an issue.
