Jumbo Package: Questions abound as offseason drags on
· Yahoo Sports
Happy Thursday, everyone. As you undoubtedly saw in the feed, 2027 WR Cedrick Simmons did indeed flip from Auburn to Alabama, as any smart player would.
Simmons tallied 106 receptions for 2,192 yards and 20 touchdowns last season at Southside-Selma. He became the first player in AHSAA state history to record over 2,000 receiving yards in a single season.
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Simmons is the No. 50 player on AL.com‘s exclusive Best in Bama list that ranks the top 50 football prospects statewide, regardless of their age.
Simmons becomes the 14th commit for the Crimson Tide in the 2027 recruiting class.
Welcome, Cedrick.
Count Pete Nakos among those who believes that Keelon Russell will be the starting QB.
With fall camp less than a month away, the Alabama quarterback competition is about to re-enter the spotlight. Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb have not shown any cards on who has the edge. For all the experience Austin Mack has in the offense, the excitement Keelon Russell brings to the field is difficult to tamp down. The former five-star recruit’s dual-threat ability caught everyone’s attention at A-Day.
Starting QB Projection: Keelon Russell
Athlon wrote about 5 key factors for the season.
2. Can Alabama Reload on the Offensive Line?
This position is arguably the biggest concern for DeBoer and coordinator Ryan Grubb. Zero starters are back (per Athlon Sports’ criteria), but Michael Carroll (546 offensive snaps last year) brings some returning experience and should be one of the better players on this unit.
How fast can new line coach Adrian Klemm find the right answers here? The development of transfers Racin Delgatty (center) and Jayvin James (tackle) and promising young returners like tackle Jackson Lloyd and guard William Sanders is crucial.
Speaking of questions, Colin Gay has three for the tight ends.
Cuevas was Ty Simpson and Alabama’s offensive safety net in 2025. Cuevas was a weapon where if a check down was needed, he caught it.
Kaleb Edwards had a preview of what that responsibility would look like in his first Iron Bowl, making the start for the injured Cuevas. In 60 snaps, per Pro Football Focus, he had two catches for 8 yards. Edwards’ production grew in the SEC championship against Georgia when he had three catches for 42 yards in 36 snaps, per PFF, a game Cuevas also missed.
Jeremiah Beaman is the latest of the “50 players.” Can he have his breakout in 2026 coming off of a major knee injury?
The Parker product was a four-star recruit out of high school, choosing his home-state Crimson Tide over Clemson, Auburn, Colorado and Florida among others. He saw action in three games as a freshman, finishing 2024 with two tackles and a hurry.
Beaman will face challengers if he hopes to take over as starter this season. Crimson Tide coaches are high on London Simmons, who saw action as a youngster due to other injuries on the defensive line.
However, in his third season with the Crimson Tide, Beaman will be expected to step up. If he does, he could blossom into a major contributor, especially if he can remain healthy.
Katie Windham put together a list of the best 5 players Alabama will face this season, and the best one happens to be in the SEC home opener.
Alabama hosts the Gamecocks on Sept. 26, and the Tide is familiar with Stewart, having gone up against the elite pass rusher the last two seasons. Stewart’s name frequently pops up as a top-10 pick in 2027 NFL mock drafts.
The 6-5 edge rusher has accumulated 22.5 tackles for loss, including 11 sacks over his first two seasons at South Carolina. Technically, Stewart will still have two years of eligibility left after this season with the new rules, but as a projected first-round pick, he is almost guaranteed to go to the NFL.Stewart only has one career tackle against Alabama, but he can be a dangerous and disruptive player coming off the edge, especially as the Crimson Tide will be breaking in an entirely new offensive line early in the season.
Fan favorite Blake Sims is always funny.
The first day Blake Sims starting coaching at West Alabama, he called his former coach: Nick Saban.
“I was like, ‘I’m sorry for everything I put you through,’” Sims said during an appearance on ‘The Dynasty’ podcast. “These kids is driving me crazy. I have a gray hair in my chin here. I’m like, ‘I’m sorry man.”
Saban laughed.
“He’s just like, ‘so you serve your head coach, serve your offensive coordinator and make his job easier.’” Sims recalled. “I’m like alright. He just hung up. You know how coach Saban is. He don’t say bye.”
How can anyone not love Blake?
6 days away. I hope Blake Sims is having a good day. pic.twitter.com/Lrag2vMCwe
— Cruz Oxenreider (@TheRealCruzOx) August 24, 2025
Last, every good college football scandal needs a little corruption, and the Brendan Sorsby saga had a Texas sized helping.
In a June 11 letter, Paxton’s office warned the Big 12 Conference on behalf of Texas Tech that any move to sanction the university for fielding Sorsby would be “unlawful” and potentially expose it to $200 million in damages.
One day before he sent that letter, Texas Tech Board of Regents Chair Cody Campbell, one of Sorsby’s most public defenders, donated $274,300 to a fundraising committee supporting Paxton in his bid for U.S. Senate, according to campaign finance records newly filed with the Federal Election Committee Wednesday.
Campbell declined to comment on the record for this story. Paxton’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment or to questions about whether Paxton indicated to Campbell that his office would send the letter if he made the donation. Texas Tech also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
There is sleaze, and then there is Cody Campbell.
That’s about it for now. Have a great day.
Roll Tide.