Our spell in college football purgatory is almost complete. The turn of the calendar revealed the light at the end of the tunnel. SEC Media Days are a week away, and Alabama will begin its preseason camp in just 24 days.

Just like the final weeks of summer vacation growing up, it’s time to finally tackle that required summer reading list. It’s been three months since A-Day, and if you’re like me, you’ve already dissected all the possible position battles and X-factors for Alabama this fall. But how well do you know the Tide’s opponents?

Maybe you’ve kept an eye on rivals Auburn and Tennessee over the offseason. Perhaps, you’ve studied up on Georgia ahead of what could be college football’s premier regular season game on Sept. 28 inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. But do you know, anything about Western Kentucky or South Florida? How about Wisconsin?

If not, don’t worry. Think of this week’s column as a form of SparkNotes for your preseason studies. Today, we’ll get to know Alabama’s future opponents by looking at each team’s most dangerous player.

So crack open your notepads, pour yourself a drink, and let’s dive in.

See what I did there? Kalen DeBoer isn’t the only one capable of making a smooth transition with Alabama football.

I’ll be honest, thinking up a fitting drink of the week is often the trickiest part of this column. Fortunately, our friends at Session lined one up perfectly for this week’s theme. This month’s “Cocktail for a Cause” is the Book Worm and will benefit the Tuscaloosa Public Library, with Session donating $1 for every drink sold.

Along with fitting our study motif, the Book Worm is a nice way to escape the next few weeks of scorching July heat. This Session original is almost as easy to stir up as it is to sip.

For this drink, you’ll need two ounces of vodka, an ounce of mango nectar, three-fourths of an ounce of lemon juice, half an ounce of cane sugar syrup and some Sprite. Shake all the ingredients except the Sprite over ice and pour into a separate glass over fresh ice. From there, top the drink off with Sprite and enjoy.

Cheers!

(Commercial break: My drink of the week section is now sponsored by my friends at Session Cocktails in Tuscaloosa. Session has been a mainstay in Tuscaloosa’s cocktail scene since 2019 and offers some of the tastiest drinks in town. Stop by and tell them I said hi!)

Alabama has rebuilt its roster into one that should be able to contend for a title this season. Still, DeBoer will face a tough road as he looks to lead the Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff in his first season as head coach.

With less than two months until the season opener, here’s a look at the most dangerous player from each of Alabama’s opponents this fall.

Western Kentucky — Anthony Johnson Jr.| Sr. | CB

2023 stats: 44 tackles; 1 tackle for a loss; 4 interceptions; 5 pass deflections; 1 fumble recovery; 1 blocked kick

Why he’s dangerous: Johnson spent two seasons at West Florida before transferring to Western Kentucky last fall. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound cornerback led the Hilltoppers in interceptions while holding opposing quarterbacks to a 40.9 NFL passer rating on balls thrown his way, according to Pro Football Focus.

Western Kentucky shouldn’t cause Alabama much stress, but the season-opening matchup will provide a first look at how Jalen Milroe operates in DeBoer’s new offense. If Johnson can cause the starting quarterback to stumble out the gates, it could spell trouble moving forward.

South Florida — Byrum Brown | So. | QB

2023 stats: 427 passing attempts; 276 completions (64.6%); 3,292 passing yards; 26 passing touchdowns; 11 interceptions; 144.34 passer rating; 809 rushing yards; 11 rushing touchdowns; 3.99 yards per carry

Why he’s dangerous: Brown struggled to move the ball through the air against Alabama last season, completing 14 of 28 passes for just 87 yards and an interception. However, the dual-threat quarterback was able to break contain on multiple occasions, scrambling for 92 yards on 23 carries.

Brown joined Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels as the only Division I players to post at least 3,000 passing yards and 800 rushing yards last season. If Brown can take the next step as a passer during his sophomore season, he could be a handful for Alabama’s rebuilt secondary in Week 2.

Wisconsin — Hunter Wohler | Sr. | S

2023 stats: 13 games; 120 tackles; 5.5 tackles for a loss; 1 sack; 2 interceptions; 6 pass breakups

Why he’s dangerous: First-year Alabama safeties coach Colin Hitschler knows first-hand how dangerous Wohler can be on the field. During his lone season at Wisconsin last year, Hitschler oversaw the 6-foot-2, 211-pound safety, helping him earn first-team All-Big Ten honors while leading the Badgers in tackles.

Wohler recorded double-digit tackles in six of his 13 games last season. He’s also decent in coverage, holding opposing passers to a 63.7 NFL passer rating on balls thrown his way, according to PFF.

Georgia — Carson Beck | Sr. | QB

2023 stats: 14 games; 417 passing attempts; 302 completions (72.4%); 3,941 passing yards; 24 passing touchdowns; 6 interceptions; 167.92 passer rating; 117 rushing yards; 4 rushing touchdowns; 1.98 yards per carry

Why he’s dangerous: Beck put up solid numbers — 21 of 29 passing for 243 yards — but never looked dangerous during Georgia’s SEC Championship Game defeat to Alabama last year. However, that was against a Crimson Tide secondary that featured a pair of elite NFL cornerbacks in Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry as well as five-star safety Caleb Downs. With all three members of that trio missing for Alabama this fall, Beck might have a bit more success when the Bulldogs come to Tuscaloosa in Week 5.

Beck is the current favorite to win the Heisman Trophy Award and is projected as the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s NFL Draft. He’ll have solid offensive line blocking for him and should still have enough weapons at his disposal despite losing tight end Brock Bowers and receiver Ladd McConkey to the NFL.

Vanderbilt — Langston Patterson | Jr. | LB

2023 stats: 11 games; 74 tackles; 8 tackles for a loss; 1 sack; 2 quarterback hurries; 1 forced fumble; 1 blocked kick; 1 interception

Why he’s dangerous: Alabama shouldn’t face much danger when it travels to Vanderbilt in Week 6. Still, the Commodores have a few players capable of forcing the Tide into a few hiccups on offense. Patterson is at the top of that list.

Vanderbilt head coach Clarke Lea spoke highly of Patterson this spring, stating that the junior has a chance to be one of the best linebackers in the SEC. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound defender made strides throughout the year last season, tallying 36 tackles, including 5.5 stops for a loss over his final four games.

South Carolina — Raheim Sanders | Sr. | RB

2023 stats: 6 games; 209 rushing yards; 2 rushing touchdowns; 3.37 yards per carry; 10 receptions; 75 receiving yards

Why he’s dangerous: Sanders earned second-team All-SEC honors in 2022, rushing for rushing for 1,443 yards and 10 touchdowns. That included a standout performance against Alabama when he ran for 101 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries while catching a pair of receptions for 19 yards during the Tide’s 49-26 win at Arkansas.

A lingering knee injury as well as a torn labrum limited his production last season. The latter, also sidelined him this spring. Still, the senior back should be at full strength by the time Alabama hosts South Carolina on Oct. 12.

Tennessee — James Pearce Jr. | Jr. | EDGE

2023 stats: 13 games; 28 tackles; 14.5 tackles for a loss; 10 sacks; 16 quarterback hurries; 2 forced fumbles; 1 interception; 1 pass breakup

Why he’s dangerous: Pearce is perhaps the scariest player on this list and will enter the season as one of the best defenders in college football.

Alabama was able to limit the 6-foot-5, 242-pound defender during his breakout sophomore campaign last year, holding him to a pair of tackles during its 34-20 win over Tennessee. However, Pearce still managed to force a fumble during a strip sack of Milroe, which led to a turnover in the first quarter.

Pearce’s strip sack came off the left side where he was matched up against left tackle Kadyn Proctor. That will be an important matchup during this year’s Third Saturday in October, as the Tide travels to a raucous Neyland Stadium.

Missouri — Luther Burden III | Jr. | WR

2023 stats: 13 games; 86 receptions; 1,212 receiving yards; 9 receiving touchdowns; 31 rushing yards; 4.43 yards per carry; 8.75 yards per punt return (8 attempts)

Why he’s dangerous: If Pearce is the scariest defensive player on this list, Burden garners the most fear on the offensive end. The five-star receiver finished third in the SEC with 1,212 receiving yards last season despite defensive coordinators consistently scheming against him.

Alabama’s secondary should be settled by the time Missouri rolls into Tuscaloosa on Oct. 26. However, even the nation’s top defenses have struggled to keep Burden out of the end zone. Over 26 career games, the playmaking receiver has totaled 18 touchdowns, including 15 through the air, two on handoffs and another on a punt return.

LSU — Harold Perkins | Jr. | LB

2023 stats: 13 games; 75 tackles; 13 tackles for a loss; 5.5 sacks; 7 quarterback hurries; 3 forced fumbles; 1 interception; 5 pass breakups; 1 rushing touchdown

Why he’s dangerous: Perkins has been a handful for Alabama, tallying 16 tackles, including a pair of sacks, in his two previous meetings against the Tide. He’ll be key in containing Milroe during the Tide’s trip to the bayou on Nov. 9.

After playing on a defense that ranked No. 108th nationally last year, Perkins should have a better supporting cast around him this fall. That could see him wreak even more havoc in what figures to be his last season before he bolts to the NFL.

Mercer — Al Wooten | Jr. | RB

2023 stats: 13 games; 715 rushing yards; 6 rushing touchdowns; 4.7 yards per carry; 12 receptions; 119 receiving yards; 2 receiving touchdowns

Why he’s dangerous: It’s hard to pick anyone on Mercer’s roster who will truly challenge Alabama. When it comes to the talent discrepancy on their rosters, the Crimson Tide and Bears might as well be playing different sports.

Still, Wooten should be a key part of Mercer’s offense this fall. The 6-foot, 223-pound back averaged a respectable 4.6 yards per carry on seven touches during a 73-7 loss to Ole Miss last year.

Oklahoma — Danny Stutsman | Sr. | LB

2023 stats: 12 games; 104 tackles; 16 tackles for a loss; 3 sacks; 2 quarterback hurries; 2 forced fumbles; 1 interception; 3 pass breakups

Why he’s dangerous: Five-star sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold is one of the contenders for breakout player of the year, but Oklahoma’s most dangerous weapon comes on the defensive side of the ball. Stutsman is one of the top returning defenders in college football and picked up first-team All-America honors from the Walter Camp Foundation earlier last week.

The 6-foot-4, 241-pound middle linebacker tallied 10 or more tackles four times last season, including a career-high 17 during a win over SMU. He’ll be key in corralling Milroe and Alabama’s rushing attack when the Tide travels to Oklahoma on the second-to-last week of the regular season.

Auburn — Jarquez Hunter | Sr. | RB

2023 stats: 12 games; 909 rushing yards; 7 rushing touchdowns; 5.72 yards per carry; 18 receptions; 118 receiving yards; 1 kickoff return (20 yards)

Why he’s dangerous: Alabama doesn’t have to be reminded about how dangerous Hunter can be with the ball. Over the past two Iron Bowls, the Auburn back has torched the Tide for 227 yards on 25 carries, an average of 9.08 yards per touch. He tallied those numbers with virtually no help from the Tigers’ passing game.

Given the additions Auburn made to its receiving corps, the Tigers should be able to move the ball a bit better through the air this fall. If so, that will only open up more holes for Hunter.