Matt Melton
August 7, 2024 3:40 pm CT
As we inch closer to the start of the 2024 Alabama Crimson Tide football season, it’s clear that there will be numerous new faces featuring in prominent roles for the program this fall on both sides of the ball.
Because of this, the Crimson Tide will now likely be counting on multiple players to “breakout” this year, or in different terms, have the best single-season of their collegiate career so far. Who might some of those names be however?
Before we attempt to answer that question, here are a few things to know first.
Firstly, incoming freshmen were not factored into this list, only returning players and transfers. Also, not every position mentioned will have a breakout player due to playing time, but for the sake of this list, we simply picked the next name on the depth chart, and also listed the percentage of a potential breakout season happening, as well as why that percentage was what it is.
With those thoughts in mind, here is one potential breakout candidate at every position entering the 2024 Alabama football season, starting with quarterback.
Quarterback – Ty Simpson
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Stats: 11/20 passing, 179 yards, 14 rushes, 86 yards, 2 TD
Percentage to Breakout: 5%
Reason: Playing Time
While highly unlikely another name sees significant playing time due to Jalen Milroe returning, the pick at quarterback to breakout goes to Simpson, who should be No. 2 on the depth chart this fall. However, barring injury, Simpson is still likely to see a similar amount of action to last season with Milroe cemented in the starting spot, making his percentage of potential breakout low.
Running Back – Justice Haynes
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Stats: 25 rushes, 168 yards, 2 TD
Percentage to Breakout: 100%
Reason: Potential Starter
Haynes, a popular pick for an Alabama breakout player this season, served as the Crimson Tide’s No. 4 option at the running back position last fall. That will certainly change this year in a big way for the former five-star prospect, who should be part of one of the SEC’s top running back duos alongside Jam Miller.
Wide Receiver – Emmanuel Henderson Jr.
Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Stats: N/A
Percentage to Breakout: 40%
Reason: Potential Rotation Option
Henderson, a former highly-touted running back out of high school, has not played much across his first two seasons at Alabama aside from special teams, but now enters 2024 as a potential option to make an impact as a wide receiver. The talent is there for Henderson, and the former four-star is certainly among the group of names that could see significant action this fall.
Tight End – Josh Cuevas
Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Stats: 4 receptions, 164 yards, 1 TD (at Washington)
Percentage to Breakout: 60%
Reason: Likely Rotation Option
A new face to the Crimson Tide, Cuevas joins a talented Alabama tight end room this season as a solid 2023 with the Washington Huskies. Cuevas is likely to see a rotational role at-the-least next to the likes of CJ Dippre and Robbie Ouzts.
Offensive Line - Wilkin Formby
Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News-USA TODAY NETWORK
2023 Stats: N/A
Percentage to Breakout: 80%
Reason: Potential Starter
Entering fall camp, Alabama had arguably only one big question mark along the offensive line at right tackle, the same position which JC Latham started a year ago. While still a few weeks away from Week 1, it appears that Formby could be the name that starts there when the Crimson Tide face Western Kentucky.
Defensive Line - Damon Payne Jr.
Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Stats: 9 tackles, 1 TFL, 0.5 sacks
Percentage to Breakout: 65%
Reason: Likely Rotation Option
Alabama’s defensive line room has a few different names that could breakout this season, but one to watch for in particular might just be Payne, who is entering his fourth season in Tuscaloosa. The redshirt junior, who is also a former five-star prospect, is likely to be a key member of the Crimson Tide’s defensive tackle rotation at-the-least.
Outside Linebacker - Qua Russaw
Mickey Welsh / Advertiser-USA TODAY NETWORK
2023 Stats: N/A
Percentage to Breakout: 45%
Reason: Potential Rotation Option
Alabama’s outside linebacker room will be counting on a few breakout seasons this fall due to the departures of Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell, with Russaw in particular certainly an intriguing name to watch for. A former five-star prospect who did not record any stats a year ago, Russaw should see a notable amount of playing time alongside the likes of Que Robinson and Keanu Koht, among others.
Inside Linebacker - Justin Jefferson
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Stats: 4 tackles, 1 FF
Percentage to Breakout: 40%
Reason: Potential Rotation Option
Alabama has two returning starters cemented at inside linebacker in Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell, making the likelihood that a player makes a significant impact lesser. If there is a name that could do that however, it might just be Jefferson, who could still potentially find his way onto the field even despite the presence of Lawson and Campbell.
Cornerback - Jahlil Hurley
Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News-USA TODAY NETWORK
2023 Stats: N/A
Percentage of Breakout: 25%
Reason: Potential Rotation Option
A position loaded with new faces, the only real name to go for here is Hurley, as transfers Domani Jackson and DaShawn Jones come to Tuscaloosa as established prospects. The former four-star prospect should see some time this season, but the question of how much still remains.
Safety - DeVonta Smith
Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Stats: 4 tackles
Percentage to Breakout: 85%
Reason: Potential Starter
Similar to cornerback, Alabama will be counting on numerous new faces at the safety position this fall, but also have arguably a clear selection here in Smith. Smith is entering his fourth season at Alabama, and is a potential Week 1 starter that should see a significant amount of action this year.
Specialists - Conor Talty
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
2023 Stats: 1/1 XP
Percentage of Breakout: 5%
Reason: Playing Time
Similar to quarterback, the Crimson Tide has a player cemented at every specialist position in the trio of Graham Nicholson, James Burnip, and Kneeland Hibbett. If you had to pick a breakout name outside of those three, Talty might make the most since, but he is unlikely to see a lot of action this fall due to the 2023 Lou Groza winner now in Tuscaloosa.
