Successful college football teams, championship college football teams, come in tiers.
Alabama fans should know this more than most, with the embarrassment of riches — and hardware — that have come their way through the decades. Bear Bryant didn’t only win with stars. Neither did Nick Saban.
Every one of those elite Crimson Tide teams, right up to last season’s flawed squad that pushed its way to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, had enough underbelly talent to go far. What about the 2026 Alabama edition? There should once again be plenty of star power on the current roster, but what about those crucial tiers?
Who will fuel this season’s under-the-radar talent brigade to point Bama back toward the promised land again in the SEC and nationally? Right now, as the springtime sweat fades into the searing summer heat in Tuscaloosa, here are 5 Crimson Tide players who might not be stars but are poised to be key in Bama’s success in 2026:
1. Rico Scott, wide receiver
When high-profile NC State transfer Noah Rogers was carted off the field during the A-Day Game, it immediately changed the perspective on Alabama’s depth chart at wide receiver. Rogers was primed to be a rock-solid No. 3 option behind presumed starters Ryan Coleman-Williams and Lotzeir Brooks. But Kalen DeBoer disclosed that Rogers would be out for a really long while, likely into the regular season.
It’s a serious left leg injury that Rogers has, which is a real downer for a transfer who was set to infuse life and needed depth into a wideout room that lost Germie Bernard to the NFL and Isaiah Horton to SEC rival Texas A&M. Even when Rogers returns, how effective will he really be? It’s an unfortunate situation that’s going to put a premium on a guy like Scott, who’s in his third year in the program, so he knows his way around by now and Rogers’ injury could provide his opening to make an impact.
What the 6-foot, 198-pound Scott lacks in size he provides with his speed. The Pennsylvania product was a 4-star recruit as a prospect, so this is a player who came to Alabama with big expectations and who’s just begging for that breakout season. After catching 11 passes with 2 touchdown grabs in 2025, maybe Rogers’ injury creates a situation for Scott to be that hidden gem who becomes a crucial part of the Tide’s passing game with either Keelon Russell or Austin Mack?
2. AK Dear, running back
That porous Alabama rushing attack from last season is in serious need of a revival this fall, and there will be plenty of opportunities for somebody, anybody to step forward with Jam Miller gone to the NFL. Miller might not have set the world on fire last season, barely eclipsing the 500-yard mark, but he did lead the Crimson Tide in rushing, so there is plenty of production to be had for returners like Daniel Hill, Kevin Riley or … Dear, who was a 4-star recruit out of Mississippi in the 2025 cycle.
This means the 6-foot-1, 212-pound Dear carried huge expectations and still has huge potential, if he can grab hold of the huge opportunity that exists in an uncertain Alabama running back room. Sure, the slimmed-down Hill or Riley, or maybe even 1 of the 2 highly touted freshmen in EJ Crowell or Trae’shawn Brown could end up carrying the load or busting out in 2026.
But, just maybe, that guy is Dear, who ran for 140 yards on 19 carries with 3 touchdowns in his first taste of college football last fall. And 1 of those 19 carries in 2025 happened to be a 56-yard touchdown run. Yes, it came late in the fourth quarter of a 73-0 blowout against overmatched Louisiana-Monroe in Week 2, but it still happened, so Dear’s ability to bust one is on film, recorded and real.
3. Zabien Brown, cornerback
Alabama might possess the best safety combination in the country this fall in Bray Hubbard and Keon Sabb. It’ll surely be a luxury for Kane Wommack to have them at the back end of his defense, but the Tide’s last defensive layer should also feature a real difference-maker at cornerback. And that would be Brown. Just ask Tennessee fans.
Because Brown himself might have detoured the Volunteers’ 2025 season right into oblivion with that scintillating 99-yard interception return for a touchdown. Tennessee was driving and only trailing 16-7 late in the first half last October in Tuscaloosa. It could’ve gotten even closer, but Brown got in the way and the Vols were cooked for the night — and really the season — after that.
Brown again showed off his big-play capability in big games during Bama’s first-round Playoff victory at Oklahoma, when he returned another interception 50 yards for a touchdown. Those were the glossy highlights, but Brown showed he can tackle, too, posting 39 total tackles, 26 of them solo, with a forced fumble and 5 pass deflections.
Only at Alabama and only in 2026 with arguably the 2 best safeties in college football could a 2024 5-star recruit out of California powerhouse Mater Dei be an under-the-radar contributor in the secondary.
Will Alabama return to the Playoff in 2026? Kalshi gives the Tide a 46% chance to do just that:
Prediction Markets College Football Playoff Qualifiers 2026 Learn more about Prediction Markets Kalshi Ohio St. 80% Notre Dame 77% Oregon 76% Georgia 71% Texas 70% Indiana 67% Miami (FL) 66% Texas Tech 59% LSU 48% Ole Miss 40% Predict4. Racin Delgatty, center
The Tide’s offensive line is in flux right now under new O-line coach Adrian Klemm, and there are huge cleats to fill at the all-important center position with Parker Brailsford now playing for the Cleveland Browns. Brailsford wasn’t just a star in the middle of Bama’s offensive line the past 2 seasons, he was a leader, becoming a team captain in 2025.
Enter Delgatty, a transfer from far away Cal Poly, who could be the perfect answer for Klemm in the middle. In 3 seasons at Cal Poly, Delgatty played 1,316 offensive snaps, with 1,302 coming at center, allowing only 1 sack and 2 quarterback hits, according to Pro Football Focus.
With left tackle stalwart Kadyn Proctor gone to the NFL along with Brailsford, Delgatty could turn out to be the most important player in Alabama’s 2026 transfer class.
5. QB Reese, inside linebacker
Speaking of filling massive holes, that’s what Alabama will have to do with Deontae Lawson, Justin Jefferson and Nikhai Hill-Green all gone to the NFL. That’s 3 of the Tide’s top 4 tacklers from a season ago. And while Virginia Tech transfer Caleb Woodson is expected to pick up a good portion of the slack, he can’t make up for all of that lost production at inside linebacker.
That’s where Reese potentially comes in. The Birmingham product is poised for a breakout in his third season in the program. After a stellar spring, Reese has a great chance to continue playing his way into a starting inside linebacker spot alongside Woodson. He redshirted in 2024, then became a key special teams player last season while sprinkling in 5 tackles, 4 of them solo, with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Kalen DeBoer and Lawson have both talked up Reese’s potential to take a big step forward in 2026, and those are mighty big words coming from the head coach and the just-departed star at the position Reese hopes to fill.
5 under-the-radar players who could be key to Alabama’s success in 2026 Saturday Down South.
Hence then, the article about 5 under the radar players who could be key to alabama s success in 2026 was published today ( ) and is available on SATURDAY DOWN SOUTH ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( 5 under-the-radar players who could be key to Alabama’s success in 2026 )
Also on site :