Alabama is getting ready for its first scrimmage of fall camp, which is set for Saturday morning. The season opener against Florida State is only three weeks away too, so things are beginning to take shape as the Crimson Tide try to solidify the pecking order at several key positions. Below, we break down six players fans should be monitoring this weekend.

WR Rico Scott

Scott has been generating buzz all offseason. Really, it started towards the end of last season, but it’s only continued to grow as we’ve continued on through the spring, summer and now fall camp. Alabama is loaded up at wide receiver, including at the top with Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard and Isaiah Horton, but Scott could be a bigger part of the equation than some realize. Versatile option who brings speed, physicality, route-running, reliable hands and a willingness to block. I’m curious to learn about how he performs on Saturday.

DL Keon Keeley

We know LT Overton is Alabama’s starting Bandit. We also suspect that Jordan Renaud and possibly Kelby Collins (depending on where the Florida transfer lines up) will be strong pieces of that rotation, but where exactly does Keeley fit in? The former five-star recruit brings obvious talent, and it’s finally starting to feel like he’s putting it all together. Last year, we heard about Keeley performing well in these scrimmages, but it was only coming against second, third and fourth-string guys. If the coaches are planning to have him as a part of the rotation this fall, he’s got to start getting at least some snaps with the first team.

RB Daniel Hill

Jam Miller is clearly RB1 in Alabama’s offense. Not only does he have the experience, but the recent glowing reviews from offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb were revealing. Where does it go from there though? Many are expecting Richard Young to be the primary backup, and that’s probably the safest assumption right now. I continue to be a fan of what Hill can bring to the table though. Yes, his biggest draw is the power at 6-foot-1, 244 pounds, but he’s a more versatile piece than some realize. We heard good things about Hill after multiple scrimmages in the spring, so can he keep that up now that we’re in the fall? We’ll be keeping an eye on it, that’s for sure.

OL Jaeden Roberts

Roberts is expected to be Alabama’s starting right guard this fall. That’s where he’s been primarily the starter for the last season and a half, but there’s been a development over the last few practices. Earlier in fall camp, Geno VanDeMark and Kam Dewberry were splitting reps at left guard while Roberts continued to work as the primary option on the right side, but here recently, we’ve noticed Dewberry working at left guard, VanDeMark working at right guard and Roberts working with the second team. Is it simply for rotational purposes? Is Roberts in danger of losing his starting job? We really don’t know right now, but maybe Saturday’s scrimmage can provide some sort of clarity — or at least that’s the hope.

DL James Smith

Smith is such a critical piece to Alabama’s defensive success in 2025. He got his feet wet as a freshman in 2023, and then earned a steady rotational role (310 snaps) this past season. Now, he’s projected to start at the 3-tech next to Tim Keenan III. The Tide’s pass rush must be better than it was a year ago, and while most of that will fall on others such as Overton, Qua Russaw and some of the other edge players, Smith brings some disruptive qualities to the interior. This guy brings size, power and way more twitch than people give him credit for. His talent and importance to his position are just a couple of reasons why I recently picked him as my top breakout candidate for Alabama’s defense.

QB Ty Simpson

Simpson is trending towards being the starting quarterback, but he hasn’t officially locked up the job yet. Saturday will mark exactly three weeks from the season opener against Florida State, so it’d be nice to hear about something being more finalized. A strong first scrimmage might be enough for Simpson to lock up the job — or at least lock it up for the early stages of the season. If the redshirt junior struggles for whatever reason, that could be enough to open the door for either Keelon Russell or Austin Mack. Either way, Saturday could go a long way in determining the quarterback battle. Simpson has all of the tools needed to be successful in Alabama’s offense.