Talent Overload: Alabama Has to Find Roster Spots for Top Recuiting Class

In recent years, Alabama fans have grown to be nearly as excited by their recruiting classes as they are by the Tide's actual games. Who can blame them either? The last two years have produced top-ranked recruiting classes, presenting a problem Alabama fans aren't used to.

Just a few short years ago, the University of Alabama was coming off severe recruiting sanctions and was so short on numbers that at times there was little need for a depth chart. Starters seldom left the game, as there was often no one of SEC quality capable of replacing them.

Times have changed since then.

These days, Alabama still does not have a depth chart—at least not one its head coach is willing to discuss in public. That no longer means it doesn’t have the talent to stock one though. Instead, it has the opposite problem.

It’s not uncommon on today’s squad to see talented players get buried on the depth chart. It’s a great problem to have for the team itself, but not such a great deal for a player buried so deep on the depth chart he has little or no hope of seeing playing time.

There is also the constant influx of talent from recruiting classes. Every year there are talented players joining the roster, adding that much more of a challenge to players already struggling to fight their way up the depth chart.

Alabama currently finds itself in a situation where it has to fit its current incoming recruiting class into its existing roster, yet still remain under the NCAA-mandated limit of no more than 85 players on scholarship at any given time.

The Tide came into this season needing to open up about 10 spots on its roster to be able to fit in its incoming class. A certain amount of attrition is to be expected every season. Chronic injuries, academics, and disciplinary issues are just a few of the reasons players may decide or be encouraged to move on.

Evan Cardwell was Alabama’s first commitment in its 2005 recruiting class. After redshirting his freshman year, Cardwell found playing time at center the next two seasons. Unfortunately, a recurring back injury forced him to end his playing career a year early. Cardwell had already earned an undergraduate degree and is currently enrolled in graduate school working on a degree in Sports Management. 

One of the deepest spots on the Alabama roster is at linebacker. Considering the players already in front of them, as well as the incoming freshmen, several players either opted to end their playing careers early or move on to other schools in an attempt to find more playing time.

Linebacker Jennings Hester was forced to give up his playing career after suffering chronic hamstring problems. Hester will continue on in school on a medical scholarship. 

Linebacker Charlie Kirschman also earned his undergraduate degree this past May. Kirschman saw playing time in two games this past season but opted to move on with his education without football.

Linebacker Prince Hall decided to transfer to Central Washington to finish his playing career. Hall saw significant playing time early in his career, playing in 36 games and making 14 starts. Unfortunately, disciplinary issues resulted in several suspensions and had Hall buried on the depth chart, prompting his decision to transfer.

Rounding out the linebacker position was the 2008 starter at the “Jack” spot, Brandon Fanney. Nick Saban didn’t hide the fact he was looking for much more production from the Jack position after Fanney failed to get consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks in ’08. Fanney was suspended for most of the spring due to disciplinary issues and lost his starting spot. As a result, Fanney requested and was granted permission to transfer.

Receiver Chris Jackson was a regular on special teams this past season, playing in 12 games. Though Jackson admitted to loving Alabama, he requested permission to speak with other schools about the possibility of transferring. He had come to the conclusion that he would be unable to break into the playing rotation at receiver. His desire for playing time led him to explore the possibility of transferring.

Cornerback Alonzo Lawrence was highly rated coming out of high school in his home state of Mississippi. Unfortunately, Lawrence had a hard time picking up Alabama’s defensive schemes and found himself too far down the depth chart to expect significant playing time in the fall. Lawrence decided to explore other options but at the time of this writing was still enrolled in classes at the University.

Kicker Corey Smith has struggled since arriving as an early enrollee last December. In limited playing time last season Smith missed an extra point, a field goal, and placed a kickoff out of bounds, all in the same game. Smith opted to transfer rather than remain as Leigh Tiffin’s backup another season.

Before Saban’s arrival, losing that many players in an offseason would have been cause for concern. That’s no longer the case. Tide fans now know it’s a sign of just how much talent Alabama’s staff has managed to stockpile. 

At linebacker, the Tide already have Jerrell Harris, Rolando McClain, Dont'a Hightower, Courtney Upshaw, Glenn Harbin, and Chris Jordan on the roster. Add to that group such highly ranked studs like Tana Patrick, Petey Smith, Nico Johnson, and Jonathan Atchison, and it’s easy to see how some players could find themselves lost in the shuffle.

The same can be said for other spots on the roster.  With Saban and his staff’s nonstop approach to recruiting, the Tide have reached the point of being able to reload each season. It’s no longer an issue of finding top-notch talent willing to join the Alabama football program.

The problem is finding spots to fit all of them.