The latest Major League Baseball draft came and went without Alabama two-sport player Keith Holcombe hearing his name called. That means there’s a chance the rising senior could once again compete for the Crimson Tide’s football and baseball teams in the coming season, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s what is going to happen.

During his Thursday media availability at the Nick’s Kids Charity Golf Tournament, Nick Saban was asked about the status of his linebacker heading into the 2018 season now that it’s known Holcombe won’t be leaving school early to play professional baseball.

“I haven’t talked to him yet, I did talk to him before (the draft), he wanted to continue to try and pursue his baseball career. So, I haven’t talked with him since that,” Saban commented. “I think he can actually come back and play another year of baseball, if he chooses to do that. I will talk to him again, but when we had the last conversation, he was pretty much set on trying to play baseball.”

Saban was then asked a follow-up question regarding Alabama’s depth at inside linebacker if Holcombe did not return to the football program in 2018.

“I’m not comfortable with any position our team, relative to the depth we have out there,” Saban answered. “I wish we had more depth. I wish we had more players. I wish more guys could contribute. Regardless of that circumstance, you know, we will try to develop and create whatever we have to do to try to develop depth at any position on our team. If that involves moving players, if that involves trying to enhance the development of younger players, that’s what we’ll do.”

Even if Holcombe doesn’t return next season, the Crimson Tide have plenty of talent returning at the position from the likes of Dylan Moses, Mack Wilson, Markail Benton and Christopher Allen. Although, as Saban points out, having four players with talent capable of one day developing into potential All-Conference performers on his roster isn’t enough to make him smile in early June.