Five Alabama Players Poised for a Breakout in 2025 – Can They Lead the Tide to a Title?

If Alabama hopes to compete for a national championship in the 2025-26 college football season, the Crimson Tide will need some help from experienced players taking the next step in their development.

Experienced starters can take another step by adding a tool to their game that they didn't have last season, a new face can emerge as a reliable contributor, or a reliable contributor can take the next step and become a starter. Alabama will need all three to happen next season from players in different stages of their Alabama careers.

Who are the five candidates to break out in 2025? The diehard Crimson Tide fans will know them by name, but can these players become household names for the Crimson Tide in 2025? That's up to them and their preparation. If Alabama hopes to win the College Football Playoffs in the 2025 season, these are the five players that Crimson Tide fans want to see take the next step and break out.

Richard Young - Running Back

Young will step into a bigger role in 2025 as the Tide's second running back behind Jam Miller. He's shown promise, with good burst through the gaps and field vision to turn routine carries into big gains. He's a powerful runner who still has a lot of tread left on the tires in college football. With Alabama's 'bell cow' title still up for grabs at running back, the Florida native could be the next great for the Crimson Tide.

Read More: Is Richard Young the Next Star Alabama Running Back?

James Smith - Defensive Lineman

Smith is slated for a major opportunity to break out in 2025. He's coming off the best game of his career in the Reliaquest Bowl against Michigan, where he totaled four tackles and his first career sack. The junior from Montgomery, Alabama, is slated to be the replacement for five-year contributor Tim Smith after Smith declared for the 2025 NFL draft. Former Alabama linebacker Christian Miller said Smith has "Christian Barmore level potential" to be a disruptor along the interior of the Tide's defense. If Alabama hopes to have another top-ten defense in 2025, it needs a disruptive defender along the front four of the defense.

Qua Russaw - Linebacker

The definition of "breakout" differs for Russaw than for Young or Smith. Russaw started 12 games for Alabama last season, totaling 36 tackles, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and one sack. For the redshirt sophomore, a breakout means taking the next step as a starter. On third downs, Russaw would come off the field, and Que Robinson would enter the game to rush the passer. With Robinson off to Denver, Colorado, Russaw needs to add a pass rush package to his game to be a complete linebacker. If he can rush the passer effectively while still setting the edge in the run game and being a force in pass coverage, then Alabama's linebacker room will elevate to one of the best in the country.

Jordan Renaud - Defensive Lineman

Renaud has played sparingly for Alabama in recent seasons, with 14 total tackles and 0.5 sacks during the Tide's 2024 campaign. His best performance came in the Tide's 34-0 win over Missouri, where he had a career-high four tackles on the day. With Alabama losing Tim Smith, Que Robinson, and Keanu Koht from the defensive front four, Renaud has an opportunity to make a name for himself as a pass rush specialist for the Tide. He'll likely line up behind LT Overton at Alabama's Bandit position, but has the opportunity to work his way up the depth chart with Jah-Marien Latham switching to Wolf linebacker.

Bray Hubbard - Safety

I know what you're thinking. Bray Hubbard is a breakout candidate? Didn't he start six games last season and get better every week?

You'd be right, but Hubbard stepped in for an injured Keon Sabb last season. He enters 2025 as a known contributor for Alabama, rather than a depth piece last season. Despite the lack of a starting designation to start the season, he finished 2024 with 57 total tackles, three interceptions, two pass breakups, and one forced fumble. Despite not starting until week six, Hubbard finished the season fifth on the Tide in tackles. Now imagine what he could do with a full 12 games starting. Hubbard will have more responsibility on his plate due to being a full-time starter now, but if 2204 is any indication, he's ready for the challenge.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.