As long as Nick Saban is coach of the Crimson Tide, fans never have to worry about reloading. Yet another talented group of players will head to the Capstone as true freshmen this fall.

But as is often the case, very few will likely have the opportunity to start, as Saban will rely more on upperclassmen on the field in the 2016 season. We won’t know for sure until just before the Tide takes on USC in the season opener.

It’s better to gauge true freshmen in terms of playing time rather than their likely chance of starting, and a handful of newbies could see PT this fall, particularly at the skill positions.

Jalen Hurts

The quarterback from Texas is the most tantalizing of this true freshman class. Yes, you’ve heard that ad nauseam by now, but it bears repeating.

Hurts was electrifying on A-Day, hitting on 11 of 15 passes for the game’s lone touchdown and showed breakaway speed with his wheels. Although Cooper Bateman had a mediocre 9-for-24 outing, it was against the Bama defense. And Saban has expressed an interest in going with his veteran in the fall.

Still, Hurts has shown he’s got a strong arm, and maybe offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin will throw in some goal line packages for the freshman, where he might really prove his worth this season as a run-pass threat.

If Hurts isn’t named the starter, it’s quite possible he could be redshirted for renewed looks in 2017.

B.J. Emmons

The 5-foot-10, 232-pound running back from Morganton, N.C., put up video game numbers in high school, amassing 36 rushing touchdowns with 2,417 yards in 2015. He’ll report to camp this summer.

Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough have the top two spots locked down, barring injury, but injuries have been a problem for the Tide in a depleted running corps.

Ronnie Clark, a redshirt sophomore, tore his Achilles tendon in practice last month, the second such injury for him since he’s been in Tuscaloosa. That could open the door for Emmons to be the third guy in the lineup, depending on the timetable for Clark’s return.

T.J. Simmons

The freshman from Clay-Chalkville, just up the road in Pinson, has no shortage of raw ability at the wide receiver position, but that’s going to be a tough nut to crack. With studs like Calvin Ridley, Robert Foster, ArDarius Stewart and Bowling Green transfer Gehrig Dieter running routes, Simmons could very well be redshirted in 2016.

Jonah Williams

The offensive lineman from Folsom, Ca., may find himself starting at right tackle come fall. The 6-foot-5, 288-pounder played with the first team in the spring game, although the play at both tackles was particularly weak on A-Day, given the preponderance of defenders in the backfield all day. Williams’ top competition for the spot will likely be Korren Kirven, who played at left tackle for the latter part of spring. The coaching staff is still trying to put the offensive line pieces together, and perhaps Williams will help fill out that puzzle.