Alabama is less than two days away from taking the field for its first practice of fall camp. From there, it’ll only be a month until the Crimson Tide kick off their 2025 season against Florida State in the season opener. We’re also getting closer to finishing up our summer roster rankings, so let’s get to it.

Previous roster rankings: Nos. 74-78, Nos. 70-73, Nos. 66-69; Nos. 62-65; Nos. 58-61; Nos. 54-57; Nos. 50-53; Nos. 46-49; Nos. 42-45; Nos. 38-41; Nos. 34-37; Nos. 30-33; Nos. 26-29; Nos. 22-25; Nos. 18-21; Nos. 15-17; Nos. 12-14

No. 11 – IDL James Smith

Previous ranking: No. 13 (+2)

I was already high on James Smith in the pre-spring rankings, but I decided he was worth moving up a couple of spots as a borderline top-10 player on Alabama’s roster for 2025. This is a former five-star recruit who has been on a nice trajectory in his first two seasons on campus. First, it was the 68 snaps he played as a freshman with some (not all) of those even being meaningful snaps. Then it 2024, he was elevated to a consistent rotational role where he played 310 snaps, including averaging a healthy 25 snaps over the final three games.

Smith has most everything you’d want in an interior defensive lineman. Not only does he have premier run-stopper power and traits, which were made evident against Michigan in the bowl game, but he’s also got untapped potential as a pass rusher. Now, that doesn’t mean he’s the most twitched up defensive lineman on the roster, but he can be a true three-down presence for you while impacting both the run and passing games.

Alabama needs impact defensive linemen after losing Tim Smith and Damon Payne from a season ago. Tim Keenan III will be one of those guys, but James Smith has to finally live up to that five-star billing and become the disruptor that he’s capable of being. Obviously, I believe that next step is coming, which is why I have him ranked up here near the top 10. A lot is going to be riding on the foursome of Keenan, Smith, Jeremiah Beaman and Edric Hill.

Projected role in 2025: Starting DT

No. 10 – CB Zabien Brown

Previous ranking: No. 10 (+0)

Brown is only a true sophomore, but I am already projecting him as a top-10 player on Alabama’s roster for 2025. As a freshman, he played the fourth-most snaps on defense (660) while starting every game opposite Domani Jackson. Not only that, but the former five-star recruit tied for a team-leading three interceptions two of those coming in big end-game moments against Georgia and Auburn.

In fact, Brown finished the season with back-to-back interception games against Auburn and Michigan. This is a technically sound perimeter cornerback who’s actually dropped a few pounds (192 down from 196).

I also think he makes a second-year leap similar to another couple of now former Alabama corners. Kool-Aid McKinstry become an All-SEC player in his second season with starting experience. Terrion Arnold did one even better, going from Year 1 starting experience to Year 2 All-SEC and All-American. Of course, McKinstry was also an All-American that 2023 season, but that was his third year. Either way, Brown could find himself on a similar path.

He’s the first of three secondary players ranked in my top-10.

Projected role in 2025: Starting CB

No. 9 – IOL Jaeden Roberts

Previous ranking: No. 9 (+0)

Roberts wasn’t healthy last season, and I’m not sure if people realize how much that effected Alabama’s offense. Sure, he managed to start 12 of 13 games and play over 500 snaps, but he was clearly hindered the entire year. There were times were he was forced to leave games temporarily due to injury, which is why backup Geno VanDeMark got over 400 snaps of his own.

Now, there’s hope that the fifth-year senior is back to 100%, and he’s once again added more weight back to his 6-foot-5 frame, going from 310 last season to 327 this year. In fact, I want you to look at how much it’s fluctuated up and down with each passing year.

• 2021: 328 pounds
• 2022: 302 pounds
• 2023: 316 pounds
• 2024: 310 pounds
• 2025: 327 pounds

So in other words, Roberts is only a pound away from being at his heaviest since he got to Alabama, but his body looks vastly different. Not only does he look like a physical marvel as an offensive lineman, but he’s also one of the hardest working players on the roster. He leads by example, and his career experience (1,090 snaps, 21 starts) is going to be vital to the offensive line’s success this season, especially with Wilkin Formby being inserted back into the starting lineup next to him at right tackle.

Projected role in 2025: Starting RG