A-Day will have a different look than the spring games of old, starting with the fact it won’t be a game. Expect something more along the lines of a practice.
That might prompt less true game situations, but it still will provide a prime opportunity to watch some of the new faces with Alabama football. Specifically, the new freshmen.
Alabama signed plenty of them, but there are five specifically we think are worth watching. Five specifically that bring intrigue.
There are more than five worth watching, sure. But these are the five most important to monitor during the practice open to the general public.
Keelon Russell, quarterback
A freshman signal caller will always be worth the watch the first glimpse fans can get of him. But that’s even more so the case when he’s in competition for the starting job. Oh and regardless of position, Russell is the highest-ranked recruit in Alabama’s 2025 class, at No. 2 overall in the country per the 247Sports Composite. Russell’s talent has already been evident in his short time in Tuscaloosa.
Dijon Lee, cornerback
Lee has already earned praise since arriving on campus. The five-star cornerback from California also stands out because of his frame: 6-4, 197 pounds. You should have plenty of chances to get a good look at him during A-Day too; Lee will have increased opportunity because starting cornerback Domani Jackson is out for the spring with an injury. So Lee could be working opposite Zabien Brown with the first-team defense.
Lotzeir Brooks, receiver
The star of the second scrimmage this past weekend, Brooks is one to watch. He’s in a crowded receiver group that might just be the most talented position group on the team, but Brooks still has managed to stand out. Will he do it again on A-Day?
Michael Carroll, offensive lineman
The 247Sports Composite listed him as the No. 17 player overall in the entire 2025 recruiting class and the top interior offensive lineman. Alabama has some openings on the offensive line, specifically at left guard. He might not win the job right away, but Carroll has potential to be a special player at some point in Tuscaloosa like former Alabama offensive linemen who attended IMG Academy such as Tyler Booker and JC Latham.
Jackson Lloyd, offensive lineman
A three-sport athlete in high school, Lloyd is one to watch on the offensive line. Alabama general manager Courtney Morgan, who played the position at Michigan, compared Lloyd to Jake Long.
“I think Jackson Lloyd coming in here can be a guy like that,” Morgan told AL.com in December. “Jake Long was a guy who was (6-8, 303 lbs) as a freshman who was special by his movement skills.”
Long, who Morgan played with at Michigan, went on to become the first overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft and an All-Pro offensive lineman in the NFL.
That kind of comparison automatically makes Lloyd a freshman worth watching. Especially as Alabama strives to figure out its starting offensive line, and its offensive line depth. Kadyn Proctor and Wilkin Formby are likely the starting tackles to start the season, but having a swing tackle is vital in college football. Lloyd could be that guy his freshman
