Ready to reload: Alabama’s 5 biggest roster decisions heading into the offseason

Alabama didn’t end its season drenched in confetti, but there’s no time to sulk.

The Process never stops.

It’s time to turn the page and begin the long climb back to the top. There are some important decisions to be made, but Nick Saban has proven time and again that nobody can reload like his Crimson Tide.

Many 5-star players are on their way out of Tuscaloosa, but there are more en route and plenty already there to plug into those spots.

Here are the five biggest roster decisions heading into the offseason for Alabama.

1. Replacing the pass rush: Alabama finished with 54.0 sacks, most in the nation and two more than it registered last season. That rush set the foundation for everything the Tide did on defense.

Five of Alabama’s top six sack leaders were seniors. That’s a lot of production to replace, and doesn’t yet factor in any potential early departures. Yes, the Tide had to replace a lot of talent up front last season, but they had veteran players with a lot of experience coming back to step up.

Da’Ron Payne will return on the defensive line, and Christian Miller and Anfernee Jennings look to be next up to fill the void left by Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson. With a year under their belt, Mack Wilson and Terrell Hall could also have a greater impact in the pass rush.

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2. Finding new options in the passing game: Alabama appears to be set in the backfield for the foreseeable future, but that isn’t necessarily the case on the perimeter. Calvin Ridley will be back, but O.J. Howard will not. If ArDarius Stewart decides to head to the NFL, the Tide will have to replace two of their top three receivers.

There aren’t a ton of exciting veteran options returning, which means there could be a youth movement in the passing game. Rising sophomore Trevon Diggs has done a little bit of everything and could fill a versatile role if Stewart leaves. Who replaces Howard is a little less clear. Miller Forristall played well as a freshman and Hale Hentges will have a chance to earn snaps.

Unlike some other positions, Alabama has shown it isn’t afraid to play true freshmen at receiver or tight end. It’s entirely possible that a new face grabs a spot for next season. Right now, 4-star receivers Tyrell Shavers and Chadarius Townsend are already on campus, and 5-star Jerry Jeudy, another get from South Florida, is the No. 4-ranked WR prospect in the country. At tight end, Major Tennison is talented pass catcher who is already on campus.

3. Blending talent and experience at linebacker: Alabama has returning talent, but it will be hard to replace the veteran leadership that is departing. Reuben Foster’s presence can’t be duplicated, and Anderson and Williams were savvy playmakers.

Wilson looks like the heir-apparent to Foster and could be the next in a long line of great Alabama linebackers. Joining him on the interior of the linebacker corps could be redshirt freshman Ben Davis, who was the nation’s No. 1 linebacker prospect last year. The potential returning seniors in this group could be Rashaan Evans and Shaun Dion Hamilton, but it’s possible that Wilson (below) beats both of those guys out on the inside.

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Wilson and Davis aren’t true freshmen, but they have very little experience. Speaking of true freshmen, the Tide almost never start a first-year player at linebacker, but 5-star prospect Dylan Moses could factor into the outside linebacker mix.

4. Reloading the offensive line: The Crimson Tide typically reload up front and have one of the most formidable offensive lines in the SEC. There will be a couple of pieces to replace, however, and that number could rise depending on early departures.

Left tackle Cam Robinson is the biggest departure, but Korren Kirven will also be gone and Bradley Bozeman could decide to head to the NFL. Jonah Williams could slide over to the left side of the line and become the next anchor for Alabama on that side, and another 5-star tackle prospect in Alex Leatherwood — the No. 2-ranked tackle in the 2017 class — could replace him on the right side.

5. Handling the running back rotation: Boasting one of the deepest stables of running backs in college football, Alabama rarely has enough touches to go around. That challenge will become even tougher in 2017, now that they’ve added the No. 1 recruit in the nation to the mix.

Bo Scarbrough broke a bone in his leg during Monday’s championship game, but Saban said it won’t require surgery. “We anticipate a fully recovery,” Saban told AL.com. Damien Harris actually started the season and led Bama with 1,037 yards rushing. Joshua Jacobs looked impressive as a true freshman, and he should have a role moving forward.

Early-enrollee Najee Harris adds a new wrinkle. Harris is the first committed back for the Tide to be ranked the No. 1 overall prospect in his class. Fans will want to see what Harris can do, but he will need to earn his way onto the field in a crowded backfield.

All rankings courtesy of the 247Sports Composite Rankings, unless otherwise indicated. 

William McFadden covers the University of Georgia and the University of Alabama for Saturday Down South. For insight on these two SEC powerhouses, follow him on Twitter @willmcfadden.