Alabama is coming off yet another SEC title, but there’s work to be done if the Crimson Tide hope to repeat the feat in 2015. The Tide are losing a bevy of key contributors to the NFL draft and to graduation.

Who will Nick Saban and his staff need to see the most development from this spring?

  • Quarterback Jacob Coker — For the second straight season, Alabama is replacing its quarterback. Many expected Coker to take the job over Blake Sims when he arrived on campus last fall, but the Florida State transfer didn’t get the playbook down fast enough, and Sims performed so remarkably that it kept Coker on the bench all year. Now, it appears to be Coker’s time to shine in Lane Kiffin’s offense. If he can’t seize control of the job, Alabama could be left starting a freshman — either David Cornwell or Blake Barnett — which would be an unprecedented move for a Saban team.
  • Offensive tackle Dominick Jackson — Alabama is replacing 60 percent of its offensive line, with left tackle Cam Robinson and center Ryan Kelly as the only holdovers. Even with a rash of injuries, junior college transfer Jackson didn’t find the field much in 2014. The No. 1 JUCO recruit in the country in 2014, Jackson could take over at right tackle to stabilize the tackles along with Robinson. Youngsters like Grant Hill and Alphonse Taylor will need to get ready to play bigger roles as well.
  • The wide receiver corps — Not only does Alabama lose Amari Cooper, the most prolific receiver in school history, but Nos. 2 and 3 receivers DeAndrew White and Christion Jones graduate as well. That gives Alabama’s host of inexperienced-but-talented receivers some big shoes to fill. Robert Foster, Cam Sims, ArDarius Stewart, Raheem Falkins and Chris Black could all take on starring roles for Kiffin, it’s just a question of who the No. 1 receiver will be. Sims, Foster and Stewart are all well-suited to fill Cooper’s spot at the X position, but Black has explosive talent in the slot.
  • Cornerbacks Tony Brown and Marlon Humphrey — Despite the losses of Landon Collins and Nick Perry, there won’t be many excuses for Alabama’s secondary this year with former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Mel Tucker taking over as the position coach. The Crimson Tide return both starting cornerbacks, but former five-stars Brown and Humphrey should find themselves with bigger roles. Brown often came onto the field when Eddie Jackson and Cyrus Jones struggled last season, and his athleticism helped him overcome inexperience. Humphrey redshirted last year, but could well be even more athletic than Brown. Tucker should help mold both into elite SEC corners.
  • Linebacker Reuben Foster — After two years of blowing up kick returners and blockers on special teams, it should finally be Foster’s time to star on defense. The hard-hitting Foster was the top inside linebacker recruit in the nation two years ago, and he’s spent the last two seasons learning behind Trey DePriest. Kirby Smart needs Foster to develop from heat-seeking special teams missile into an every-down force. With his speed, Foster could be a sideline-to-sideline terror for the Tide defense.