Alabama Football: Rising Freshmen to Watch

The Alabama Crimson Tide football program consistently attracts top-tier talent, and the class of 2025 is no exception. Several first-year players made significant contributions throughout the season, earning recognition from the Southeastern Conference. This article highlights the standout freshmen who have impressed fans and analysts alike, showcasing their potential for future stardom.

SEC All-Freshman Team Selections

Four Alabama players were named to the 2025 SEC All-Freshman Team: Kaleb Edwards, Michael Carroll, London Simmons and Dijon Lee Jr., each of whom performed at an extremely high level throughout the 2025 season. Their inclusion on this prestigious list underscores the immediate impact they had on the Crimson Tide's success.

Kaleb Edwards: Emerging Tight End Threat

Kaleb Edwards, a talented tight end from California, made his mark during the regular season. He hauled in a total of 150 yards on 11 receptions. The rising star was consistently targeted following Josh Cuevas’ injury, as Edwards has continued to earn himself constant targets during the second half of the season. His reliable hands and ability to gain yards after the catch make him a valuable asset in the passing game.

Michael Carroll: Anchoring the Offensive Line

Michael Carroll was widely regarded as one of the best offensive linemen from his class entering the 2025 season. The 6’6”, 321 pound lineman has been a focal point on the Crimson Tide offensive line throughout 2025, as Carroll has done an excellent job in protecting Ty Simpson for the majority of the year. Carroll will certainly have his hands full against the Sooners’ defensive line next Friday, but the former five-star recruit has continued to turn heads during his first season on the college level. His presence on the line has provided stability and allowed the offense to execute effectively.

London Simmons: Disruptive Force on the Defensive Line

London Simmons has emerged as a true star on Alabama’s defensive line. The freshman recorded a sack and 14 total tackles during his first regular season in Tuscaloosa, and Simmons has continued to flash his potential and could emerge as a key player in the trenches for years to come. A three-star recruit out of high school, Simmons continues to be a pleasant surprise on the Crimson Tide defensive line and will more than likely continue to improve in the near future. His ability to disrupt plays and pressure opposing quarterbacks has been a significant boost to the Alabama defense.

Dijon Lee Jr.: Lockdown Cornerback in the Secondary

Dijon Lee Jr. has played a crucial role in the Alabama secondary throughout the second half of the 2025 season. Lee recorded 2 interceptions and 31 total tackles during the regular season, as the freshman has quickly emerged as one of the better defensive backs in all of college football. Lee started in each of Alabama's final five games of the regular season, while seeing time in every contest. He's totaled 31 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and four pass breakups. Coming into the SEC Championship game against Georgia, Lee allowed just 10 receptions on 24 targets for a team-low 41.7 percent catch rate. Lee earned his way into the starting lineup following a dominant performance against Missouri. His coverage skills and ball-hawking ability have made him a key component of the Crimson Tide's defensive unit. All four of these freshmen had big plays and moments, but perhaps Lee has spent the most time on the field. The former five-star recruit is one of five finalists for the Shaun Alexander Award, which is given annually to college football's top freshman.

NFL Combine Prospects

Alabama has 12 players heading into Indianapolis this week for the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. It's an important week for the entire dozen, but more is on the line for some than others. The pre-draft process got started in earnest with All-Star events like the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl, but with just two months to go until the NFL Draft, the combine is a massive opportunity for prospects to improve their stock with their performances in drills and in one-on-one opportunities with NFL teams. Alabama will have a still-to-be-announced Pro Day in Tuscaloosa that will give prospects another opportunity to impress, but struggles in Indianapolis could be tough to overcome for some.

Ty Simpson: Quarterback Under the Microscope

All eyes in Indianapolis will be on Alabama QB Ty Simpson, who is one of the most polarizing prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class. Simpson heads to Indianapolis as the consensus QB2 behind Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, but that doesn't guarantee the Crimson Tide product a spot in the first round. Most seem to believe he'll find his way into the first round, but his performance in Indy will go a long way in determining that. Simpson has made the high-risk, high-reward decision to throw this week at the combine, and he'll be under the microscope as a result. He'll undoubtedly do well in interviews with teams that will be impressed with his cerebralness, but there are plenty of questions that he'll look to answer in a positive way about his game and experience.

Jam Miller: Running Back Seeking to Rebound

Jam Miller entered his senior season with high expectations and the unquestioned lead back for the Crimson Tide. While he did lead Alabama in rushing, that wasn't exactly an impressive feat. Miller's numbers fell from 668 yards and seven touchdowns on 4.7 yards per carry as a junior to 504 yards and three touchdowns on 3.9 yards per carry as a senior. Miller was unable to participate in the Senior Bowl with an injury, which kept him from a big opportunity to showcase his skills. He'll head to the combine with a lot of ground to make up. He's currently projected as a late-round pick, but that could go up or down depending on testing numbers in Indianapolis.

Domani Jackson: Cornerback Looking to Regain Draft Stock

Domani Jackson was considered a day two pick after an impressive junior season at Alabama, but came back to Tuscaloosa with hopes to work himself into the first round range. Unfortunately, that went sideways, and Jackson is now a projected late-round pick. Jackson struggled to hang onto his starting job at Alabama this season, with freshman Dijon Lee earning several starts over him. Jackson has the potential to really help himself at the Combine. He should run well, and his testing numbers should be solid, but it won't be enough to recover the draft stock he lost during a disappointing senior season.

Read also: Looking at Alabama's Schedule

Jaeden Roberts: Offensive Guard with Raw Power

Jaeden Roberts entered the season as a potential All-American candidate on an Alabama offensive line that had significant hype. Instead, he suffered a preseason concussion and started the season on the bench, where he mostly stayed during his final season with the Crimson Tide. Roberts only started four games for Alabama during his senior year, and just wasn't a good fit for Kalen DeBoer's offensive system. But that doesn't mean he can't carve out an NFL career with a team that suits his skillset better. Roberts is another guy who is likely a mid-to-late day three pick and could potentially go undrafted, but his raw power and athleticism should be on full display at the Combine. We could be on record watch on the bench press.A mid-round pick is probably the ceiling for the former Tide interior lineman, but he can solidify his place as a draft pick if he performs well in drills.

Other Notable Players

Alabama football had numerous players help lead the Crimson Tide to the No. 9 spot in the College Football Playoff, and a few first-year players stood out among the SEC throughout the season. This comes two days after the conference coaches released their All-SEC teams, as left tackle Kadyn Proctor (co-winner of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy) and safety Bray Hubbard made the First Team, quarterback Ty Simpson and linebacker Deontae Lawson represented the Second Team and center Parker Brailsford landed on the Third Team.

Keelon Russell

Nov 8, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell (12) smiles as he wars up before the game with LSU at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Russell’s lone appearance this season came against Louisiana-Monroe when he completed 4 of 6 passes for 65 yards and a pair of touchdowns during Alabama’s 73-0 blowout victory.

Senior Day

Alabama shouldn’t run into any drama on Senior Day. The No. Eastern Illinois is 3-8 and riding a six-game losing streak. So what is there to gain for Alabama (8-2) when playing such an overmatched opponent? “Really letting are young guys eat,” Alabama edge rusher LT Overton said when asked that question on Tuesday. “Going out there really being able to step up their leadership skills, being able to communicate, talk with each other. Just being able to grind out there on that field together as a young unit. Saturday will serve as Senior Day for LT Overton and 15 other scholarship seniors. However, he and the rest of the Tide’s starters will likely make way for the sidelines once the game is well out of hand early in the second half.

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