JD PicKell: How Alabama 'reloaded' following last season's disappointing runner-up finish

Only in a place like Alabama can a national title game appearance be considered a disappointing season. But for Nick Saban, unless you’re the ones holding the trophy, the year isn’t a success. Of course, this past January, Saban and the Tide had to watch SEC rival Georgia hoist the crown.

‘Bama is not prepared to allow that to happen again in 2022-23. According to On3’s JD PicKell, Saban and co. have reloaded in a major way heading into the fall. Over on the On3 YouTube channel, he broke down exactly how the Tide refueled their dynasty.

Here were his comments:

“It’s an interesting time right now in Alabama. They’re coming off a year where they were the national runner-up. It’s not a phrase you like to head much in title town in Tuscaloosa. It’s not something they really are accustomed to saying all that frequently. All that’s to say…what is the pulse right now in Tuscaloosa?

“Well, to start, I think they feel like they reloaded like Alabama last year by a lot of people’s accounts was in some way, shape or form, fortunate to be in that situation to be able to play for a national title. And that’s not a knock on Alabama by any stretch of the imagination. If anything, it’s a compliment to Nick Saban and to his program for being able to outperform what they had on the roster. Because last year they were really lean. And you saw that in the national title game, especially in the secondary.”

Despite all the transfers and decades of recruiting success, Alabama somehow found themselves low on quality depth late last year. They fixed that this offseason.

“That’s not going to be the case this coming year. You got Bryce Young being able to come back after having a huge Heisman-Trophy-winning season is crucial for them. Obviously, brining in seven of the 11 returning starters back on defense. They’re bringing in guys from the Transfer Portal. I mean, you go down the list of transfers, from Jahmyr Gibbs to Eli Ricks, Tyler Harrell. They got some guys than can do some damage.”

PicKell then went on to tout what Jahmyr Gibbs from Georgia Tech will bring to the table.

“Gibbs, for a lot of people, the best player in the ACC a year ago. He’s gonna have to tote the rock quite a bit for them this coming year. It’s a cliche around college football — Alabama doesn’t rebuild, they just reload. But it could not be more true for them this year. They’re ready to run it back and appear yet again in the national title game.”

Nick Saban’s Death Star is back in orbit after the additions made this offseason. At least according to JD PicKell.