Alabama Football: Projecting the Depth Chart Way Too Early

If there's one question I've learned from from interviewing Nick Saban over the years, you never—and I mean never—ask a depth chart question, refer to a depth chart position or even infer something to do with a depth chart.

So with this in mind, let me give an educated guess into the depth chart at the various positions on the Alabama team.

All this could change dramatically with an injury or two in fall practice or someone beating out another through their hard work or play making abilities.

Quarterbacks

Boy have I already taken a ton of heat by saying that, in my opinion, there is no way that A.J. McCarron won't be the opening day starter for the Crimson Tide. But I am still firm in my opinion on that.

Starter - A.J. McCarron - Soph - 6'4'' - 200 lbs

Phillip Sims - Fresh - 6'2'' - 213 lbs

Blake Sims - Fresh - 6'0'' - 195 lbs

Phillip Ely - Fresh - 6'1'' - 186 lbs

Running Backs

Could there be any other starter other than Trent Richardson? Not unless he gets hit by a bus.

Starter - Trent Richardson - Jr - 5'11'' - 225 lbs

Eddie Lacy - Soph - 6'0'' - 215 lbs

Jalston Fowler - Soph - 6'1'' - 238 lbs

Brent Calloway - Fresh - 6'1'' - 210 lbs

Receivers

This years starters could look like this with a three-receiver lineup:

Starters:

Marquis Maze - Sr - 5'10'' - 182 lbs; Darius Hanks - Sr- 6'0'' - 185 lbs; Duron Carter - Jr - 6'2'' - 195 lbs 

Subs:

Kevin Norwood - Soph - 6'2'' - 188 lbs

DeAndrew White - Fresh 6'0'' - 180 lbs

Brandon Gibson - Sr - 6'2'' - 197 lbs

Kenny Bell - Soph - 6'1'' - 174 lbs

Bradley Sylve - Fresh - 5'11'' - 175 lbs

Michael Bowman - Jr - 6'4'' - 225 lbs

Offensive Tackles

As much as I'm told that Barrett Jones will be the starting left tackle, I still can't believe that with the talent we have at that position that someone won't step up and let Barrett Jones go back to guard.

Left Tackle:

Starter - Cyrus Kouandijo - (yes, it's a stretch but...) Fresh - 6'7'' - 332 lbs

Alfred McCullough - Sr - 6'2'' - 310 lbs

Tyler Love - Jr - 6'6'' - 305 lbs

Austin Shepherd - Soph - 6'5'' - 309 lbs

Right Tackle:

Starter - D.Jl. Fluker - Soph - 6'6'' - 330 lbs

Arie Kouandijo - Fresh - 6'5'' - 335 lbs

Austin Shepherd - Soph - 6'5'' - 309 lbs.

Offensive Guards and Center

This is the absolute strength of the Alabama line. There's tons of experience here, and these are people who know how to open running lanes. It will be a fun year to watch these men in action for the last time as a group.

Center:

Starter - William Vlachos - Sr - 6'1'' - 290 lbs

Kellen Williams - Soph - 6'3'' - 307 lbs

Chad Lindsay - Fresh - 6'2'' - 278 lbs

Left Guard:

Starter - Chance Warmack - Jr - 6'3'' - 310 lbs

John Michael Boswell - Sr - 6'5'' - 291 lbs.

Anthony Steen - Soph - 6'3'' - 292 lbs

Right Guard:

Starter - Barrett Jones - Jr - 6'4'' - 302 lbs

Allen Skelton - Jr - 6'1'' - 264 lbs

Austin Shepherd - Soph - 6'5'' - 307 lbs

Tight Ends

In the Saban system, the tight end is often used as a blocker first and a receiving threat second. With that in mind, here's the outlook of that position.

Stater - Brad Smelley - Sr - 6'3'' - 230 lbs

Chris Underwood - Sr - 6'4'' - 240 lbs

Michael Williams - Jr - 6'6'' - 270 lbs

Brian Vogler - Fresh - 6'7'' - 245 lbs

Defensive Line

This could be both the strength of the team this year, but the ranks are thin at good experience. At this level.

Nose Tackle:

Starter - Josh Chapman - Sr - 6'1'' - 319 lbs

Jesse Williams - Jr - 6'4'' - 330 lbs

Nick Gentry - Sr - 6'1'' - 282 lbs

Brandon Ivory - Fresh - 6'4'' - 336 lbs

Defensive Ends:

Starters - Damien Square - Jr 6'3'' - 285 lbs and Quinton Dial - Jr. 6'6''- 315 lbs

Undra Billingsley - Jr - 6'2''- 272 lbs

Ed Stinson - Soph - 6'4'' - 253

Jesse Williams - Jr - 6'4'' - 330 ;bs

Brandon Lewis - Sr 6'3'' - 275 lbs.

Linebackers

Boy does Alabama have some depth at linebacker and they can switch and rotate as needed without creating a problem.

Mike Linebacker:

Starter - Donta Hightower - Jr 6'4'' - 260 lbs

Chris Jordan - Sr - 6'3'' - 233 lbs

DeMarcus Dubose - Sr 6'1'' - 240 lbs

Sam Linebacker:

Starter: Nico Johnson - Jr - 6'3'' - 240 lbs

C. J. Moseley - Soph - 6'2'' - 225 lbs

Alex Watkins - Sr - 6'3'' - 232 lbs

Jack Linebacker:

Starter - Courtney Upshaw - Sr - 6'2'' - 265 lbs

Adrian Hubbard - Fr - 6'6'' - 234 lbs

Tana Patrick - Soph - 6'3'' - 231 lbs

Will Linebacker:

Starter: Jerrell Harris - Sr - 6'3'' - 232 lbs

Johnathan Atchinson - Soph - 6'3'' - 240 lbs

Trey Depriest - Fresh - 6'2'' - 232 lbs

Cornerbacks

Alabama may have finally the right mix of experience and athleticism together in the defensive backfield this year, and the cornerback position in no exception.

Starters: Dre Kirkpatrick - Jr 6'3'' - 190 and DeMarcus Milliner Soph 6'1'' - 185 lbs

Nickle back starter: DeQuan Menzie - Sr 6'0'' - 195 lbs

Phelon Jones - Sr 5'11'' - 200 lbs

John Fulton - Soph 6'0'' - 190 lbs

Hasean Clinton-Dix - Fresh - 6'2'' - 190 lbs

Ranzell Washington - Soph 5'9'' - 168 lbs

Safeties

Two or the best safeties in the SEC head up this group, and there are young ones in the wings waiting to take over.

Starters - Mark Barron - Sr - 6'2'' - 210 lbs and Robert Lester - Jr 6'2'' - 210

Will Lowery - Sr 5'10'' - 188 lbs

Nick Perry - Soph - 6'1'' - 197 lbs

Jarrick Williams - Soph - 6'1'' - 203 lbs

Vinnie Sunseri - Fresh - 6'0''' - 220 lbs

Specialists

Last year was not a good year for the kicking corp that worked as a two man tag team. They rated 67th in the nation, and the punting was just as inconsistent. Everyone is hoping for a better year from the same personnel.

Kicker - Starter - Cade Foster - Soph - 6'1" - 225 lbs

Jeremy Shelley - Jr - 5'10'' - 165 lbs

Punter - Starter - Cody Mandel - Soph - 6'4'' - 204 lbs.

Jay Williams - Fresh - 6'3'' - 209 lbs

Long Snapper - Starter - Carson Tinker - Jr - 6'1'' - 223 lbs

Backups might be William Vlachos or Kellen Williams, no real backup ever has been needed

And That's It!

Yes, I know some positions may change over fall practice, but this is the best guess of this writer when the opening kickoff happens.

I also know that many of these picks go against what you may have heard coaches say or by what you may have seen in spring practice. These picks were done by what I feel will happen after fall practice is all sorted out and the players reach their development potential.

I hope you enjoyed this early peek at how things may look. For all the news on Alabama you need, sign up for the Alabama Newsletter on Bleacher Report or check daily on my home page.

Thanks for reading.