The Alabama football team’s top five strengths in 2024
With the departures made through the portal and to the NFL, Alabama Football enters a period of retooling, but the club still boasts one of the most talented rosters in college football. Strong competition at the team’s camp is expected to fill positions such as offensive tackle, wide receiver, cornerback, and edge rusher. Several positions on the team are fixed.
The team is essentially set, though the coaching staff will need to assess a few spots before the spring to decide whether to take advantage of the spring transfer portal window or not. Kalen DeBoer might decide to stay put and stick with what he has because it will be difficult for the team to locate an offensive tackle or a cornerback more talented than what this team has coming in.
Pre-season polls for Alabama football will offer an intriguing viewpoint.
The Associated Press’s first ranking of the Alabama Crimson Tide will help us understand how this team is seen around the country. With a lot of turnover, the team’s return to form should place it in the top five, but the ranking might be surprisingly high or low. Preseason polls are usually meaningless, but since a new era is beginning, it will be intriguing to see where this bunch is ranked.
5. Gambler
Georgia vs. Alabama in the 2023 SEC Championship (Kevin C. Cox/GettyImages)
The Alabama football team will welcome back James Burnip, a special team weapon, despite losing Will Reichard, the finest kicker in program history. Burnip significantly improved between 2022 and 2023. Burnip punted 57 times in 2023, averaging 47.5 yards per punt and going 67 yards long. The Australian improved significantly in 2023, hitting 8.77% of his punts inside the 20, compared to just 2.27% in 2022.
It is hugely significant and underappreciated to have a punter with Burnip’s level of talent and expertise returning. The Alabama football team lost the game, but we almost witnessed James Burnip and his strong special teams defeat Michigan in the Rose Bowl. The Wolverines mishandled one punt and almost gained a safety on the other. While it would be ideal if Burnip didn’t have to punt at all in 2024, we will all have faith in his abilities whenever he does.
