Alabama’s projected depth chart for next week’s opener vs. West Virginia

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. _ Brandon Ivory appears to have reclaimed his starting job as the senior nose guard was working with the first unit during the University of Alabama’s practice on Saturday afternoon.

Ivory was lined up between sophomore defensive ends Jonathan Allen and Dalvin Tomlinson during individual drills when reporters were allowed to observe. The Crimson Tide practiced in full pads inside while the temperature approached 100 degrees outside.

Ivory, who has played in 29 games, with 13 starts, and credited with 24 tackles, 1.5 for a loss, a hurry, and a pass broken up last season, was the only one of the three defensive line starters from the spring in the same spot Saturday.

Sophomore A’Shawn Robinson is coming off a sprained knee, while junior-college transfer Jarran Reed, who like Ivory was suspended for a week at the start of training camp, is still working his way back up the depth chart.

“It’s great because it seems like we’re coming together as an even bigger family and helping each other get better,” Tomlinson said about the potential Ivory-Reed-Robinson combination. “We’re building more depth and getting experience going against our offensive line everyday. I think it’s pretty good.”

Junior Dillon Lee, who spent nearly all of training camp at strongside linebacker, was practicing with the inside linebackers. In addition to providing some added depth as senior weakside linebacker Trey DePriest is coming off a knee injury, it’s a strong hint that the Crimson Tide will be in nickel formation (five defensive backs) a lot during next week’s season opener against West Virginia in Atlanta.

“Inside linebacker is an area that we need to continue to develop,” Coach Nick Saban said on Thursday.

Meanwhile, on the offensive side junior-college transfer Dominick Jackson was working at left tackle behind Cam Robinson. While Jackson is coming off a spraining ankle, both of Alabama’s left tackles at the end of training camp were true freshmen (Ross Pierschbacher the other).

Consequently, Alabama’s two-deep depth chart will look something like this when released Monday afternoon:

Offense
QB: Blake Sims or Jacob Coker
RB: T.J. Yeldon, Derrick Henry or Kenyan Drake
FB: Jalston Fowler
WR: Amari Cooper, Robert Foster
WR: DeAndrew White, Raheem Falkins or Chris Black
Slot WR: Christion Jones, Chris Black or ArDarius Stewart
TE: Brian Vogler or O.J. Howard
LT: Cam Robinson, Dominick Jackson or Ross Pierschbacher
LG: Arie Kouandjio, Brandon Greene
C: Ryan Kelly, Bradley Bozeman
RG: Alphonse Taylor, Leon Brown
RT: Austin Shepherd, Grant Hill

Defense
DE: A’Shawn Robinson or Jonathan Allen
NT: Brandon Ivory, Darren Lake,
DE: Dalvin Tomlinson, D.J. Pettway or Jarran Reed
SLB: Dillon Lee, Ryan Anderson
MLB: Reggie Ragland, Reuben Foster
WLB: Trey DePriest, Shaun Dion Hamilton
Jack (DE/LB: Denzel Devall, Xzavier Dickson
CB: Cyrus Jones, Eddie Jackson or Tony Brown
CB: Bradley Sylve, Eddie Jackson or Marlon Humphrey
SS: Landon Collins, Laurence “Hootie” Jones
FS: Nick Perry, Geno Smith
Star (nickel): Jarrick Williams, Maurice Smith

K: Adam Griffith
P: JK Scott
LS: Cole Mazza
RS: Christion Jones

Injured: DL O.J. Smith (shoulder); TE Kurt Freitag (toe)

Christopher Walsh

Christopher Walsh has covered Alabama football since 2004 and is the author of 19 books. In his free time, he writes about college football.