Which early entrants for Alabama football in 2025 are taking part in spring practice? Complete list

As the Alabama Crimson Tide football program prepares for the 2025 season, the spring practice period is a critical time for the program to evaluate its roster and begin the process of building for the upcoming campaign. Early entrants—those players who enroll in college early and participate in spring practice—are especially important in this process, as they have the opportunity to get a jump start on their development and compete for immediate playing time. This is especially true at Alabama, where the competition for spots is always fierce, and coaches want to see who is ready to contribute early.

Alabama’s 2025 class includes several highly-touted recruits who will be taking part in their first spring practice with the team. These early enrollees will have the chance to demonstrate their skills and prove they are ready to make an impact in their first season. Some may be vying for starting spots, while others are hoping to develop and contribute as rotational players or special teamers. Regardless of their role, spring practice is crucial for their development as they adjust to the collegiate level of competition.

Let’s take a look at the complete list of early enrollees for Alabama football in 2025 who will be participating in spring practice. This group includes a mix of high school recruits who graduated early and transferred players who are looking to make an immediate impact with the Crimson Tide.

Early Enrollees for Alabama Football in 2025 Spring Practice

**1. Jalen Hale (Wide Receiver)

Position: Wide Receiver
High School: Longview High School (Longview, Texas)
Ranking: 4-Star Recruit
Notable: Jalen Hale is one of the top wide receiver prospects in the nation for the 2025 class. Known for his impressive speed, size (6’1”, 190 lbs), and ability to make plays in the open field, Hale is expected to be a key contributor to Alabama’s wide receiver corps. As a spring enrollee, Hale will have the chance to establish chemistry with Alabama’s quarterbacks and compete for early playing time. Given Alabama’s need for talented pass-catchers in the 2025 season, Hale could be in the mix to make an impact as a freshman.

**2. Richard Young (Running Back)

Position: Running Back
High School: Lehigh Senior High School (Lehigh Acres, Florida)
Ranking: 5-Star Recruit
Notable: Richard Young is one of the most highly-regarded running back prospects in the country. A dynamic player with incredible speed and vision, Young is a perfect fit for Alabama’s traditional powerful running game. His early enrollment will allow him to compete with returning players and learn from Alabama’s coaching staff. With Alabama losing several key players from the backfield, Young will have a chance to earn significant playing time as a freshman and could even challenge for a starting role.

**3. James Smith (Defensive Tackle)

Position: Defensive Tackle
High School: Carver High School (Montgomery, Alabama)
Ranking: 5-Star Recruit
Notable: James Smith is one of the most coveted defensive line prospects in the country. Known for his quickness, strength, and ability to disrupt the offensive line, Smith is a versatile player who can play both inside and outside on the defensive line. With Alabama losing a few key defensive linemen to the NFL, Smith’s early enrollment gives him a chance to challenge for significant playing time in the defensive rotation. He will likely be competing for a starting spot on the interior of the defensive line, and his ability to impact the pass rush could be a difference-maker for Alabama’s defense.

**4. Quentin Thomas (Offensive Tackle)

Position: Offensive Tackle
High School: South Forsyth High School (Cumming, Georgia)
Ranking: 4-Star Recruit
Notable: Offensive line is one of the most critical positions in college football, and Alabama has consistently recruited some of the best offensive linemen in the nation. Quentin Thomas is one of the top prospects in the 2025 class, standing at 6’6” and 310 lbs. His early enrollment allows him to get a head start in adjusting to the college game and learning the complexities of Alabama’s offense. With the offensive line in need of depth and continuity after some departures, Thomas will be looking to make an immediate impact and push for playing time as a freshman.

**5. Julian Sayles (Cornerback)

Position: Cornerback
High School: St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
Ranking: 4-Star Recruit
Notable: Alabama has produced several standout cornerbacks under Nick Saban, and Julian Sayles is expected to be another one of those players. As a 4-star cornerback with excellent footwork and ball skills, Sayles has the potential to step in and compete for playing time right away. With Alabama needing to reload in the secondary, particularly at cornerback, Sayles will be a key player to watch this spring. His ability to cover opposing receivers and contribute in pass coverage could make him a key part of Alabama’s defensive backfield.

**6. Antonio Carter II (Wide Receiver)

Position: Wide Receiver
High School: Springfield High School (Springfield, Pennsylvania)
Ranking: 4-Star Recruit
Notable: Antonio Carter II is another high-level wide receiver prospect in the 2025 class who will participate in spring practice. Known for his excellent route running, strong hands, and ability to create separation, Carter II will look to impress during the spring and compete for immediate playing time. As Alabama works to build a strong receiving corps, Carter II’s ability to come in and make plays could play a major role in his chances of getting early snaps. He will be competing with players like Jalen Hale and others for a spot in the rotation.

**7. Derrick Stribling (Defensive Back)

Position: Defensive Back
High School: Kennesaw Mountain High School (Kennesaw, Georgia)
Ranking: 4-Star Recruit
Notable: Derrick Stribling is a versatile defensive back who has the ability to play both cornerback and safety. His physicality, ability to cover receivers, and knack for making plays on the ball make him a valuable asset to Alabama’s secondary. With Alabama looking to strengthen its pass defense, Stribling’s early enrollment provides him with a great opportunity to learn from the coaching staff and compete for playing time. His physical tools could be the key to him earning a spot in the rotation sooner rather than later.

**8. Earl Little Jr. (Defensive Back)

Position: Defensive Back
High School: Miami Central High School (Miami, Florida)
Ranking: 5-Star Recruit
Notable: Earl Little Jr. is one of the top defensive back prospects in the country, and his early enrollment could help him get a leg up on the competition as he works to make his mark on the Alabama defense. A smart, instinctive player with excellent ball skills and the ability to read the quarterback’s eyes, Little is expected to compete for a starting role in Alabama’s secondary. With Alabama looking to reload at cornerback and safety, Little’s ability to make an impact could be one of the biggest storylines of the spring.

**9. Malik Muhammad (Linebacker)

Position: Linebacker
High School: Duncanville High School (Duncanville, Texas)
Ranking: 5-Star Recruit
Notable: Malik Muhammad is one of the top linebacker prospects in the country and is widely regarded as one of the most athletic and instinctive players at the position. His ability to diagnose plays, cover ground quickly, and make tackles in the open field will make him a key player to watch this spring. With Alabama losing some key linebackers, Muhammad’s early enrollment gives him a chance to compete for a spot in the rotation and potentially even a starting role. His physicality and sideline-to-sideline speed could make him an impact player right away.

**10. Will Norman (Defensive End)

Position: Defensive End
High School: The Hun School (Princeton, New Jersey)
Ranking: 4-Star Recruit
Notable: Will Norman is a standout defensive end who has the size and athleticism to make an immediate impact for Alabama. Standing at 6’5” and 270 lbs, Norman is a force against the run and the pass. With the defensive line being an area of focus for Alabama, Norman’s early enrollment will allow him to gain valuable experience and potentially push for a starting role in the fall. His combination of speed and power could give him the edge in competing for snaps this spring.

**11. David Herring (Offensive Guard)

Position: Offensive Guard
High School: Peachtree Ridge High School (Suwanee, Georgia)
Ranking: 4-Star Recruit
Notable: David Herring is an offensive lineman with great size and strength who will be a key piece of Alabama’s offensive line in the future. His ability to play both guard and tackle gives him positional versatility, and his early enrollment provides him with a chance to learn and compete for playing time right away. As the Crimson Tide works to shore up its offensive line depth, Herring will look to make his case this spring and fight for a spot in the rotation for 2025.