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5 Alabama stars who won’t be back in 2023 and who will replace them

By Cody Williams

Dec 31, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (31) quarterback Bryce Young (9) head coach Nick Saban and defensive back Jordan Battle (9) pose for photos following the victory against the Kansas State Wildcats in the 2022 Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (31) quarterback Bryce Young (9) head coach Nick Saban and defensive back Jordan Battle (9) pose for photos following the victory against the Kansas State Wildcats in the 2022 Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jordan Battle, Alabama Crimson Tide. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports /

The Alabama Crimson Tide finished the season with a Sugar Bowl win but still out of the playoff. Now, these stars are leaving but replacements are waiting.

Though it wasn’t the ending that the Tuscaloosa faithful imagined coming into the 2022 season, the Alabama Crimson Tide put a stamp on the year with a dominant Sugar Bowl victory over Kansas State on Saturday. Of course, fans would’ve much preferred to be playing later on Dec. 31 in the College Football Playoff, but that’s not how things played out.

Because the Tide missed the Playoff, though, there are going to be questions about Alabama football for the 2023 season. No, Nick Saban isn’t on any kind of hot seat. However, this is a team that will be trying to get back to the top of the country, not on the outside looking in with the Top 4 in the final CFP rankings.

That, however, might not be easy to accomplish. Alabama is set to lose some true stars from the team to the NFL Draft. These five players in particular won’t be back and will be big losses for the Crimson Tide, so we’ll also look at who is in line to step up and replace them.

Table of Contents

Alabama Football: 5 stars who won’t be back in 2023 and who replaces them

Jordan Battle was a defensive leader that Alabama will likely miss

For a program that has produced the high-level defensive backs that Bama has under Nick Saban, it’s a rare thing when you see a player who has played in 54 career games for the program, but that’s what Jordan Battle did for the Crimson Tide. He’s been a stalwart and leader for this team and has the accolades to prove it.

In his senior season in Tuscaloosa, Battle earned first-team All-SEC honors and was voted a third-team All-American by the Associated Press voters as well. The strong safety finished the season with more than 60 total tackles and two pass breakups, but his impact went beyond the box score as the true general and leader for this defensive unit.

After four seasons, though, Battle figures to be a Top 150 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft as he departs the program. So now the Crimson Tide won’t be just looking to replace a phenomenal player overall but also a defensive leader.

Alabama replacement for Jordan Battle: Kristian Story

Junior Kristian Story hasn’t seen much work on the defense outside of sporadic appearances on special teams. However, he’s the most natural fit in terms of play style to fill the strong safety role.

With that said, his lack of experience will likely mean he’s not going to step into that defensive general type of position for Bama. Assuming he doesn’t turn pro — which isn’t a given — Brian Branch at the STAR position seems like the most likely option to fill that void. If Branch leaves, look for rising junior DeVonta Smith to take up that mantle.

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