Sifting through the Alabama roster and ranking positions from strength to weakness is a tough task. These are the defending national champions. They’re good. They’ve been good. Nick Saban has put together top recruiting classes year after year, so the roster is filled with talent and depth.

But here it goes, a look at the Tide from strength to weakness as summer approaches:

Secondary: You have to start somewhere and Alabama’s secondary is as good a place as any. The group may arguably be the best in the SEC, if not the country. Corners Minkah Fitzpatrick and Marlon Humphrey, along with safeties Eddie Jackson and Ronnie Harrison, are in a league of their own and the scary part is they’re only going to continue to get better.

Jackson tied for the SEC lead last season with six interceptions. He was fifth on the team in tackles with 46. Humphrey added three picks and 45 tackles. Fitzpatrick also recorded 45 tackles a year ago and returned both of his interceptions for touchdowns in the victory over Texas A&M.

Linebackers: Reuben Foster leads an all-star group. He’ll try to fill the shoes of Reggie Ragland. The two were Alabama’s top tacklers last season. Foster turned in 73 stops to Ragland’s 102. Foster could reach triple digits this season. He’ll be joined in the middle by Shaun Dion Hamilton, but the Tide is deep at linebacker also. Rashaan Evans should see playing time inside as well. He had a huge A-Day, piling up 17 tackles.

On the outside, Ryan Anderson returns after a solid junior season. He was in on 37 tackles last season, including 11.5 tackles for loss and 6 sacks. Tim Williams, Christian Miller and Anfernee Jennings, who was injured last season and turned in a big spring, are also expected to see meaningful snaps in 2016.

Defensive line: No, it doesn’t compare to last year’s D-line, but then again what does? Nevertheless, this is a unit that should be among the strengths of the team. Jonathan Allen is back and looks to follow up a solid junior year in which he ranked second in the SEC with 12.0 sacks. Only Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett (12.5) had more. He’ll be the leader once again along the line, though he was sidelined in the spring by shoulder surgery.

Dalvin Tomlinson also returns after turning in 34 tackles last season to go along with 6 passes broken up and 4 quarterback hurries. Da’Ron Payne is growing into a solid player as well. As a freshman last season, he played in every game and gained valuable experience. At 6-foot-2, 319 pounds, Payne has the physical ability to step into a bigger role in 2016.

Wide receiver: This is another group that could, and should, be a strength this season. Calvin Ridley burst onto the scene a year ago as a featured playmaker in OC Lane Kiffin’s scheme. Ridley led the Tide with 1,045 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns on 89 catches as a freshman in 2015 and should only get better as the Tide develops the next quarterback in line.

ArDarius Stewart is also among the talented group, hauling in 63 passes for 700 yards and 4 touchdowns as a sophomore last season. Junior Robert Foster averaged nearly 39 receiving yards per game before being sidelined by a shoulder injury. His return would complete one of the more solid and perhaps underrated receiving corps in the conference.

Offensive line:  This is an area full of question marks, but it’s also an area of talent. Cam Robinson is as good as it gets at left tackle, legal issues notwithstanding. Of course, if he isn’t on the field in the fall it changes the dynamics of an already inexperienced line.

Ross Pierschbacher could be the anchor at center after being moved from left guard. Fellow sophomore Lester Cotton, at left guard, and freshman Jonah Williams (right tackle) represent the young talent along the line. Senior Alphonse Taylor (6-foot-5, 345 pounds) looks to trim down and get in shape over the summer in preparation for a starting role. He and right tackle Korren Kirven are the only two seniors two-deep on the offensive line.

If you throw tight ends into the mix, there isn’t one better than senior O.J. Howard.

Quarterback: This seems to be a yearly question mark, and by the end of the season is one of the team strengths. For that trend to continue, it would appear that either Cooper Bateman or perhaps David Cornwell would have to step up and assume the role of team leader. Based upon spring practice, Jalen Hurts can’t be counted out of that conversation, either.

Bateman has the most experience, make that the only game time experience of the bunch. As a sophomore last season, Bateman threw for 291 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs, completing 37 of 52 passes.

Running back: There’s an enormous amount of potential between hopefuls Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris. Many thought Scarbrough would be the guy, but not so fast after Harris’ MVP A-Day showing. Harris rushed for 114 yards on 20 carries and looked the part.

Harris carried 46 times for 157 yards and a touchdown as a freshman last season. Scarbrough added 104 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries in his freshman season.

This battle for playing time should be as interesting for this position as it will be at quarterback.