Kalen DeBoer provides list of Alabama football players who will miss spring practice.

After Alabama’s first spring practice, head coach Kalen DeBoer addressed the media and provided updates on the team’s injury situation. He listed players who will either be limited to non-contact drills or sidelined for the entire spring session.

 

Players Limited to Non-Contact:

– OT Kadyn Proctor

– LB Justin Jefferson

– DT James Smith

 

Players Out for the Spring: 

– LB Deontae Lawson

– CB Domani Jackson

– S Keon Sabb

– DE Kevonte Henry

– TE Danny Lewis Jr.

– WR Bubba Hampton

– P Alex Asparuhov

– LS David Bird

DeBoer noted that most of these injuries stem from last season, so they weren’t unexpected for the coaching staff. In particular, the absences of Lawson and Sabb were anticipated, as both suffered season-ending injuries in 2024.

Proctor’s limited participation is also unsurprising given the shoulder issues he battled throughout last season. Meanwhile, injuries for Henry, Hampton, and Lewis Jr. are unfortunate, as all three players needed spring reps to compete for playing time. While Lewis Jr. should still see opportunities due to Alabama’s limited tight end depth, Henry’s absence could hinder his chances of making an impact on the defensive line. Hampton, already facing stiff competition at wide receiver, may struggle even more to find a role after missing valuable practice time.

 

Opportunities for Younger Players 

With Lawson out and Jefferson restricted to non-contact drills, Alabama’s linebacker group presents opportunities for younger players to step up. Colorado transfer Nikhai Hill-Green was expected to be a key contributor, but redshirt freshmen like Cayden Jones and QB Reese could gain valuable spring reps.

At tight end, with Lewis Jr. unavailable and four-star freshman Kaleb Edwards not enrolling until the summer, Alabama has limited scholarship options. This opens the door for players like senior Josh Cuevas, redshirt freshman Jay Lindsay, and true freshman Marshall Pritchett to earn significant reps.

The offensive tackle position is another area of intrigue. Proctor’s limited participation means freshman Jackson Lloyd, who has already impressed since arriving on campus, should get plenty of reps. He’ll likely compete with Wilkin Formby for the right tackle job, with both potentially rotating at left tackle as well.

Ball State transfer Arkel Anugwom could see immediate action, while freshmen Micah DeBose and Mal Waldrep may also get increased reps. Given Alabama’s thin tackle depth, redshirt sophomore Olaus Alinen and true freshman Michael Carroll could even get looks at the position despite being interior linemen.

Ultimately, while injuries create challenges, they also present opportunities for younger players to develop and prove themselves ahead of the 2025 season.