Alabama Football: Projecting Who Will Win Crimson Tide's Open Starting Positions

While Alabama’s roster is just about settled with the enrollment of the rest of its 2015 recruiting class, its depth chart can’t quite say the same.

During spring practice, a largely steady lineup emerged and culminated at A-Day, when players were split into teams based on first- or second-team status, the closest we’ll get to a depth chart until fall camp.

But a small handful of positions remain up in the air and could further be disrupted by the arrival of several top recruits to campus.

With a month to ago until SEC media days and less than two months until fall camp, here are predictions for who will emerge victorious in the Crimson Tide’s remaining position battles.

Middle linebacker

Reggie Ragland will be a major leader on the Alabama defense but still needs a steady inside linebacker partner.

Junior Reuben Foster and sophomore Shaun Dion Hamilton got about equal work in at that spot during the spring, both showing they’re capable of handling that role.

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Nick Saban said the two played situationally, with the bigger Hamilton used during running situations and the more athletic Foster playing against the pass. But who will be the one in late against LSU? The fourth quarter of the Iron Bowl with the SEC West on the line?

Foster has been on campus longer and was the 5-star, can’t-miss recruit, but injuries stemming from poor tackling technique have cost him valuable playing time. Hamilton, meanwhile, doesn’t have the raw athletic ability, but his military-family background gave him incredible smarts, instincts and discipline needed to thrive as a middle linebacker in Saban’s system.

Foster and Hamilton should both get healthy amounts of playing time, but when the rubber meets the road, it’ll be Hamilton.

Prediction: Shaun Dion Hamilton

Right guard

The offensive line stayed largely the same through the spring, but that doesn’t mean that it’s totally set in stone.

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Saban consistently mentioned during the spring that he felt he had four offensive linemen who could play “winning football.” He was referring to Cam Robinson, Ross Pierschbacher, Ryan Kelly and Dominick Jackson.

That leaves right guard, where Bradley Bozeman’s job isn’t totally secure.

Alphonse Taylor has seemingly always been on the cusp of a starting role for the last year or so. He rotated in at right guard last year with Leon Brown, with neither player grabbing solid playing time.

In a more extreme scenario, the staff could decide Jackson’s pass-blocking isn’t where it needs to be and slide him inside, creating an open position at right tackle.

But Bozeman has been a solid player since coming to Alabama, and Taylor’s window seems to have closed. He’ll be the one to complete an offensive line that should be its best since the vaunted 2012 group.

Prediction: Bradley Bozeman

Quarterback

And now, the million dollar question.

Predicting the quarterback here could mean a few things. Who starts against Wisconsin and who starts against Auburn are two very different propositions.

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But this prediction is for the long-term—the guy the Crimson Tide live or die with late in the season with everything on the line.

Jake Coker and David Cornwell are the two front-runners, with Coker having a slight edge in seniority and playing time (the only quarterback on the roster, actually, who has thrown a pass in a game).

If the race continues to be this tight, which it likely will, it’s hard to see Saban not going with the younger guy who has room to grow. Do you really think he wants to do this all over again for the third year in a row next offseason?

Coker is probably the odds-on favorite to take the first snap in Arlington.

But for the long run, it’s going to be The David Cornwell Show.

Prediction: David Cornwell

Marc Torrence is the Alabama lead writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes and reporting were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Follow on Twitter@marctorrence.