imageBy Brett Hudson

After categorizing the yearly occurence as a “chore”, Alabama football coach Nick Saban released the depth chart for the opening of the 2013 season. Here it is in its entirety with some notes posted at the bottom.

Quarterback
1. (Sr.) AJ McCarron
2. (Jr.) Blake Sims

Running Back
1. (Soph.) T.J. Yeldon
2. (Jr.) Jalston Fowler
*3. (Soph.) Dee Hart
*3. (Fr.) Derrick Henry
*3. (Fr.) Altee Tenpennuy

Wide Receiver: X
1. (Soph.) Amari Cooper
2. (Jr.) DeAndrew White
3. (Fr.) Raheem Falkins

Wide Receiver: H
1. (Jr.) Christion Jones
2. (Fr.) Chris Black

Wide Receiver: Z
*1. (Sr.) Kevin Norwood
*1. (Sr.) Kenny Bell
2. (Fr.) Robert Foster

Tight End
1. (Jr.) Brian Vogler
*2. (Fr.) O.J. Howard
*2. (Fr.) Brandon Greene

H-Back
1. (Jr.) Jalston Fowler
2. (Jr.) Harrison Jones

Left Tackle
1. (Jr.) Cyrus Kouandjio
2. (Sr.) Kellen Williams
3. (Fr.) Grant Hill

Left Guard
1. (Soph.) Arie Kouandjio
*2. (Sr.) Kellen Williams
*2. (Soph.) Isaac Luatua

Center
1. (Soph.) Ryan Kelly
2. (Jr.) Chad Lindsay

Right Guard
1. (Sr.) Anthony Steen
2. (Fr.) Alphonse Taylor

Right Tackle
1. (Jr.) Austin Shepherd
2. (Jr.) Leon Brown

Defensive End
1. (Sr.) Ed Stinson
*2. (Fr.) A’Shawn Robinson
*2. (Soph.) LaMichael Fanning

Noseguard
1. (Sr.) Brandon Ivory
*2. (Soph.) Darren Lake
*2. (Fr.) Korren Kirven

Defensive End
1. (Jr.) Jeoffrey Pagan
*2. (Fr.) Dalvin Tomlinson
*2. (Fr.) Jonathan Allen

Sam Linebacker
1. (Jr.) Adrian Hubbard
2. (Soph.) Dillon Lee

Mike Linebacker
1. (Jr.) Trey Depriest
2. (Fr.) Reuben Foster

Will Linebacker
1. (Sr.) C.J. Mosley
*2. (Sr.) Tana Patrick
*2. (Soph.) Reggie Ragland

Jack Linebacker
*1. (Jr.) Xzavier Dickson
*1. (Soph.) Denzel Devall

Cornerback
1. (Sr.) Deion Belue
2. (Soph.) Bradley Sylve

Cornerback
1. (Sr.) John Fulton
2. (Soph.) Cyrus Jones
3. (Fr.) Maurice Smith

Strong Safety
1. (Jr.) Vinnie Sunseri
*2. (Soph.) Landon Collins
*2. (Jr.) Jarrick Williams

Free Safety
1. (Jr.) HaHa Clinton-Dix
2. (Sr.) Nick Perry

Kicker
1. (Sr.) Cade Foster
2. (Fr.) Adam Griffith

Punter
1. (Sr.) Cody Mandell
2. (Fr.) Adam Griffith

Holder
1. (Sr.) AJ McCarron
2. (Sr.) Vinnie Sunseri

Long Snapper
1. (Fr.) Cole Mazza

Punt Return
1. (Jr.) Christion Jones
2. (Soph.) Dee Hart

Kick Return
1. (Jr.) Christion Jones
2. (Sr.) Kevin Norwood
3. (Soph.) Cyrus Jones
4. (Jr.) DeAndrew White

Notes

– The topic of the day….

Why this happened, there’s no telling. There remains this eerie feeling that the entire story has yet to come out, as if there is more to this than on-field performance. However, speculation is dangerous and time will surely tell.

– Despite a lack of explosion for the most part (with one key exception in the Ole Miss game), Christion Jones remains the No. 1 kick returner. He seems to be the best option out of those that took on the duties last year, and an entire year’s worth of fielded punts and kicks could do wonders for him.

– Jalston Fowler is a dangerous man. He could be the most versatile player on the team in that he could start games at both running back and H-Back if the coaching staff wanted it to be that way. He will surely be featured as both in some drives throughout the season, if not alternating between the two on back-to-back plays.

– How Alabama uses its two guys at the Jack Linebacker position, Xzavier Dickson and Denzell Devall, will be very interesting. Dickson can wreak havoc on a quarterback’s pocket in the blink of en eye, and Devall came on towards the end of last season a a fully-rounded linebacker, showing flashes of brilliance in pass coverage. The ability to stuff the run in any direction and gap on a consistent basis could swing the playing time balance in favor of one or the other if they separate themselves in that regard.