TideSports 2016 preview: Defensive line
Returning starter: Jonathan Allen
Starters lost: Jarran Reed, A'Shawn Robinson.
Top candidates: End Da'Shawn Hand and tackles Da'Ron Payne and Dalvin Tomlinson should contribute to this unit. Payne saw significant playing time on the nose as a freshman last year. Hand, a former No. 1 national recruit coming out of high school, saw less action but seems poised to step into the starting spot after a strong spring. Tomlinson has experience and could be considered a co-starter with Payne at the tackle spot. However, the senior has been slowed by nagging injuries this August.
Allen has been a consensus preseason All-America pick. He likely would have been a high NFL draft choice last April, but chose to return to school in what may have been Alabama's top recruiting coup of the offseason.
In addition to tremendous talent, the key to last season's success was depth. That's still under development this season, although there are several young players looking to get into the mix. Junior Josh Frazier probably has the best shot among the candidates at tackle, although Dakota Ball has been a pleasant surprise in fall camp. Sophomores O.J. Smith and Johnny Dwight could also figure into the rotation.
Newcomers to watch: Freshman Raekwon Davis will get attention. His size at 6-foot-7, 315 pounds, makes that certain. His status remains uncertain, though, due to an academic issue from high school. Freshmen ends Quinnen Williams and Terrell Hall have shown the physical ability needed to get into the rotation. At age 27, junior college transfer Jamar King is working to find a spot at tackle.
You need to know: One other difference on the defensive line will be the coaching, as former Buffalo Bills assistant Karl Dunbar has come on board after popular Bo Davis left the staff abruptly in the spring.
Outlook: Alabama’s run defense should still be solid, but matching last year's depth will be dependent on the productivity of newcomers and inexperienced reserves. The talent is there, but last year's unit was also characterized by toughness.
Key stat: Alabama finished with 52 sacks last season, almost doubling its production in that category from the 2014 season. The total was the most for a UA team since 1992.
Quotable: "Each season we're going to have to come back and prove something to someone, even ourselves. So if we win, we have to come back and prove that we can win again. If we fall short one year, we have to come back and prove that we want to win. So either way you're going to have to prove something." – Dalvin Tomlinson