Alabama Taking Different Approach to Naming Captains

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Each of the last two seasons under Kalen DeBoer, Alabama has named the team's captains before the season began. However, in 2026, head coach Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide will take a different approach to the team captains.

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"We have not selected captains yet, which is why they haven't been announced," head coach Kalen DeBoer told the media on Monday morning. "Going back to the leadership kind of from the beginning, there was less guys, I guess, that had experience in the program. And so, we did select a unity council. I did it later than I normally would have. They've done a great job — and later would have been the end of the spring. And so, they've done a great job kind of providing, being the liaison, the voice between me and the team, giving me the information, giving the team the information. And we just haven't gotten to the point where we're captains. We'll kind of decide that here as we go through.”

In 2024, the Crimson Tide named quarterback Jalen Milroe, offensive lineman Tyler Booker, safety Malachi Moore, and linebacker Deontae Lawson as captains. Milroe, Booker, and Moore departed for the NFL, while Lawson returned to rehab a knee injury he suffered in Alabama's 24-3 loss at Oklahoma that season. In 2025, Lawson was back as a captain, joined by defensive lineman Tim Keenan III, center Parker Brailsford, and quarterback Ty Simpson. All four left for the NFL after last season.

Who Could Be Named Captains in 2026?

Alabama has a handful of options for the 2026 captains. The track record is two offensive players and two defensive players. We'll start with the easy choices: the defense. Bray Hubbard and Zabien Brown have been multi-year starters, All-SEC, and All-American candidates for the Tide's secondary. Yhonzae Pierre could also be an option as a veteran presence in the front four defensively, while Keon Sabb earned praise from the Tide's coaching staff during Monday's press conference ahead of week one against East Carolina. Virginia Tech linebacker transfer Caleb Woodson could also be a sneaky option for defense.

Offense is where things get a little more questionable. Each of the last two seasons, the quarterback has been named a captain, as well as being on the leadership council DeBoer mentioned. Both Milroe and Simpson were draft-eligible and left Alabama after their season as a captain. Russell is a second-year player and only appeared in two games last season for the Tide. Not saying he can't be a good leader, but the odds of a second-year player being a captain after such limited reps a season ago feel unlikely. Wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams is a likely candidate as a third-year starter for the Crimson Tide. Beyond him, Alabama would likely either name a transfer (center Racin Delgatty, tight end Josh Ford) or a second-year player (left tackle Jackson Lloyd, right guard Michael Carroll, tight end Kaleb Edwards, wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks) as a captain.

Alabama is scheduled to open the 2026 season hosting the East Carolina Pirates on Saturday, September 5. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. CT.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.