We are just over two weeks from college football officially kicking off. Alabama opened as the No. 1 team in the country, but there are holes to fill from the team that nearly won another national championship last season.

Here are five players who must outperform their history if Alabama wants a chance at making their fourth consecutive Playoff appearance.

1. Trevon Diggs, CB

If there is one thing that Diggs has proven since arriving in Tuscaloosa, it’s that he is an incredible athlete with a lot of versatility. The younger brother of Minnesota Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs has played wide receiver, cornerback, safety and returner despite only being on campus for just over a year.

After posting 11 catches for 88 yards and a touchdown as a true freshman receiver, Diggs has since moved to the defensive side of the football. The defense is looking to replace former star cornerback Marlon Humphrey, a first-round pick to the Baltimore Ravens, and Diggs is expected to be that guy at left cornerback.

Diggs struggled in the annual A-Day game in April, but otherwise, he’s shown noticeable improvement since making the move. Alabama already has four of the five starters in the secondary locked up, so if Diggs can show that he is a suitable replacement for Humphrey, the Tide should once again have an elite, complete group on the back end of their defense.

2. Robert Foster, WR

Alabama lost three key contributors in the passing game with O.J. Howard, ArDarius Stewart and Gehrig Dieter all leaving for the NFL. Finding suitable replacements will be key if the Tide want to give Jalen Hurts the best chance at continued development.

Foster, a 5-star prospect in 2013 who has struggled to get on the field, is expected to be Alabama’s main deep threat this season. He’s already shown glimpses of how lethal he can be after finishing with 115 yards receiving on only two catches in the spring game. Foster is one of the fastest players on the team, but at 6-2, 194 pounds, he also has the length necessary to battle for contested balls downfield.

Don’t be surprised if Foster’s 215 career receiving yards double before Week 6.

3. Christian Miller, Edge

Miller has played in 27 games, but only as a rotational player. That should change as Miller is expected to be one of the main contributors to replace the pass rush production that was lost from last season.

Miller was the No. 39 overall player in the 2014 recruiting class, so the raw pass rushing tools have always been there. While he could stand to gain a little weight, Miller brings solid length to the position with his 6-4, 240-pound frame. He’s not as explosive as Tim Williams off the snap, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him lead the team in sacks.

The defense needs more than just Miller to outperform his history, but there’s no doubt that his emergence would go a long way in helping the Tide get stay in the Playoff hunt.

4. Lester Cotton, RG

Cotton is an interesting guy on Alabama’s offensive line. He’s a Tuscaloosa native who was highly recruited as a 4-star prospect coming out of Central High School.

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At 6-4, 324 pounds, Cotton has the necessary size to play tackle of guard, but he’s projected to settle in at right guard after seeing playing time there last season. He started the season at left guard — making four starts — but was benched when the coaching staff decided to mix things up. Once Alphonse Taylor was lost for the season, Cotton was once again inserted into the starting lineup — this time at right guard — but was later benched again in favor of Korren Kirven.

Now that Kirven has graduated, Cotton is the favorite to replace him as the long-term starter at a position of need. Alabama should have one of the SEC’s best units protecting Hurts, but they’ll need Cotton to be more consistent if they want to keep the sophomore quarterback as clean as possible.

5. Raekwon Davis, DL

Davis is one of the first guys you want off the bus. When watching the team practice, it’s hard to miss the 6-7, 306-pound specimen wearing No. 99. Even at his size, the former 4-star only has 14-percent body fat.

Alabama has lost a lot of depth along its defensive line over the past two seasons. Two of their three starters from last year, Jonathan Allen and Dalvin Tomlinson, are in the NFL. The year before, A’Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed were second-round draft picks. The defense needs someone like Davis to step in and produce.

If fall camp has been any indication, Davis is more than ready to be that guy.