2009 Record – 14-0, 8-0 SEC
Bowl Game – BCS National Championship – Beat Texas 37-21
Letterman Returning: 41
Stadium – Bryant-Denny Stadium (92,138)
College Location – Tuscaloosa, AL
Coach – Nick Saban, 33-8 (4th year)
OFFENSE: (8)
Key Returnees – RB Mark Ingram (below), QB Greg McElroy, WR Julio Jones, G Barrett Jones, RB Trent Richardson, WR Marquis Maze
Key Losses – G Mike Johnson, T Drew Davis, TE Colin Peek
- When head coach Nick Saban resigned from the Miami Dolphins after just one season, or almost one season in the NFL, most thought he was taking a step down in taking over an Alabama team that had too high of expectations and too little of talent. It’s safe to say now, winning National Championships at Alabama opposed to 
500 seasons with the Dolphins was actually a step up for Saban. The former LSU head man has increased the Tide’s win total in each of his first three seasons and revamped an offense that averaged 22.9 points and 123 rushing yards an outing the year before he arrived, to a unit that averaged 32 and 215 yards on the ground last season. Much of last year’s success can be credited to Heisman trophy winner Mark Ingram, who broke out from a modest 728 yards his freshman season, to 1,658 yards and 17 touchdowns last year. Ingram, who brings a fineness and power rushing style to the game, returns to his junior season but will miss the Crimson Tide’s opening week matchup with an undisclosed knee injury. Only at Saban’s Alabama could an All-American running back be backed up by another All-American, however. Sophomore Trent Richardson, a first team freshman All-American last season, will fill in for and compete for carries with the Heisman winner. Richardson added 751 yards and eight scores to the Alabama rushing game last season. National Championship teams in the past have proved that an offense can be successful without a star at the quarterback position, just like Alabama showed last season with Greg McElroy. McElroy, who may not even stack up to being the second best quarterback in the SEC, brought in a modest performance last season with just over 2,500 yards and 17 touchdowns. His just four interceptions were what was most important to the ‘Bama offense. The Tide returns a talented group of pass catchers, led by All-American candidate and physical specimen Julio Jones. Jones saw a dip in production last season after a freshman season in which he brought in 924 yards, catching just 43 balls for 596 yards in his second year. Now a junior, Jones is more focused and matured and ready to become the type of player he is capable of becoming. Junior wideout Marquis Maze and senior Darius Walker, give McElroy other talented and reliable targets in the passing game. The offense line for the Tide returns just three starters, led by All-American sophomore Barrett Jones. Watch out for redshirt freshman DJ Fluker to become a star this season for the Tide. Fluker takes over the right tackle position and as a former No. 1 recruit, has all the talent to become an All-American.
DEFENSE: (2)
Key Returnees – S Mark Barron (below), MLB Dont’a Hightower, DE Marcell Dareus
Key Losses – OLB Rolando McClain, CB Javier Arenas, NT Terrence Cody, CB Kareem Jackson, S Justin Woodall, OLB Eryk Anders,
- Fans looking for familiar faces amongst the Crimson Tide defense will have quite the hard time spotting them this season. ‘Bama returns just two starters to what was one of the top defensive units in college football last season. The defensive line is totally revamped with end Marcell Dareus returning as the teams most experienced lineman. 
Dareus brought in 6.5 sacks last season in only four starts. The junior will miss the first two weeks of the season, however, after Saban suspended him regarding talk of Dareus having contact with an agent. Junior Josh Chapman will fill the gaps at nose guard this season with senior end Luther Davis taking over the other end position in the 3-4 defense of the Tide. Just one starter remains from last season’s linebacker unit, and even still, the returning player started just four games. Sophomore Dont’a Hightower, a former freshman All-American, took a medical redshirt last season with a torn ACL in a week four game. The rest of the ‘backer unit for the Tide remains talented, yet inexperienced. Junior Courtney Upshaw and senior Chavis Williams, will fill the outside positions, with junior Jerrell Harris taking over next to Hightower in the middle. Sophomore Nico Johnson adds solid depth as well. If there are any parts of the 2010 Tide team with pressure amongst their shoulders the linebacker unit is just that. Like the rest of the defense the defensive backfield for the Tide remains depleted with the only returning starter being junior safety Mark Baron. Baron, a 3rd team All-American selection last season, finished second on the team in tackles with 76 and finished tied for the lead in the SEC with 18 passes defended, while leading the conference with seven interceptions. Baron has filled up to his billing as a high school All-American, and should continue to lead the ‘Bama defense in big plays in 2010. The corner position is left picked over, however, Dre Kirkpatrick and DeQuan Menzie should develop into reliable starters. Backups, BJ Scott and LSU transfer Phelon Jones, offer good support behind the starters. The Tide defense put up some pretty staggering numbers last season and it would be tough to expect the 2010 defense to live up to last season’s billing, however, nothing less than a strong performance from the D will get ‘Bama back to the National Championship game.
SCHEDULE:
- It’s rare for a team amongst the SEC to bring in an undefeated season. Auburn in 2004 has been the only other undefeated team, besides Alabama last season, that has brought in an all win season this decade. Not even Tim Tebow could deliver on a perfect season for the Gators. That’s right, not Tim Tebow. Something thats not said in a sentence very often. But what it really all goes to show is how tough a conference the SEC is to play week in and week out. It took just three years for Saban to turn an Alabama team from a 6-7 squad to 14 game winners last season and since 14 wins is about as high as a team can go in college football, there is really nowhere to go but down for Saban, or just beat everyone on the schedule again. This season, a San Jose State meeting in week one feeds the Tide’s hunger to hit someone besides their roommates, in a Sept. 4 matchup. A week later, the Tide welcomes Joe Pa’s Penn State team to Tuscaloosa. In his past, Saban is just 2-3 against the legendary coach. A rare trip to Duke ends ‘Bama’s early non-conference schedule. A Sept. 25 trip to Arkansas will test the team’s young secondary in the first conference game for the Tide. A home meeting with Florida a week later lies in store. This seasons game against the Gators will be the first regular season matchup since the 2005 season. At South Carolina, Mississippi at home and at Tennessee ends October football. A trip to LSU, Nov. 6, starts November with a Mississippi State visit following. SEC West rival Auburn ends the regular season for the Tide in a Friday night meeting. The Tigers have put together their best team since 2006 and will be looking forward all season for the Nov. 26 matchup.
Schedule rating: A
Red = Toughest Game. Blue = Pivotal to conference.
Top Incoming Freshman:
1.) Phillip Sims (left), *#2 QB, 6-2 215, Chesapeake, VA
Sims, who graduated HS early to be in for spring, is a strong armed pocket passer who fits the mold of a ‘Bama quarterback.
2.) Demarcus Milliner, #1 CB, 6-1 185, Millbrook, AL
An all around football player, Milliner has superb coverage skills for a freshman DB.
3.) Johnavon Fulton, #6 CB, 6-0 175, Manning, SC
Fulton brings decent size and 4.3 speed to the secondary for Bama.
4.) Nick Perry, #17 S, 6-2 200, Prattville, AL
Perry has been impressive since arriving in Tuscaloosa and is already listed on the two-deep depth chart.
5.) DeAndrew White, #13 WR, 6-0 170, Galena Park, TX
White brings a similar style of play as that of current ‘Bama wideout Marquis Maze.
*Rankings according to scout.com
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