Alabama's top 5 returning players in 2024 ft. Jalen Milroe 

The 2024 college football season is crucial for the Alabama Crimson Tide as they seek to move on from the hugely successful Nick Saban era under new coach Kalen DeBoer.

While the team lost stalwarts like Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold to the NFL, they have some important returning players who will attempt to make the transition between coaching staffs easier.

Top 5 returning players in Alabama

#5. Parker Brailsford

Alabama Offensive lineman Parker Brailsford will play under his former Washington Huskies coach, Kalen DeBoer. He formed part of the offense that was one of the best in the country and propelled the Huskies to the national championship game.

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He will be key to the style of play that DeBoer is known for and will fit seamlessly into the offensive schemes due to his pre-existing relationship with the coach.

#4. Justice Haynes

Former five-star running back Justice Haynes is primed for a breakout season with Alabama and will pick up the slack left by Jase McClellan. Last season, he had 25 carries for 168 yards and two touchdowns.

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He will compete for the lead-back role with his friend Jam Miller, and after Fall camp, Robert Gillespie, the Crimson Tide's running backs coach, discussed the upside of the duo's relationship.

"Justice is a guy that got better throughout the season, with the little things it takes for the game to be complete. Very competitive guys, those two get along, they hang out, but both of those guys are really ready to push each other," Gillespie said (h/t Sports Illustrated).

#3. Deontae Lawson

After the Minnesota Vikings picked the defensive star Dallas Turner in the 2024 NFL draft, linebacker Deontae Lawson became a top choice for the 2024 Alabama team under new coach Kalen DeBoer.

Lawson played 11 games for the Crimson Tide and registered 67 tackles, 5.5 for loss and three sacks.

For his efforts, he was named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award.

#2. Malachi Moore

Malachi Moore opted to return for an extra year with Alabama and will lead a secondary that lost both Caleb Downs to the transfer portal and Terrion Arnold to the NFL.

He tallied 51 tackles with five for loss, five passes deflected and one interception last season and was Nick Saban's defensive captain. His effervescent personality will also plug the gap left by the jovial Terrion Arnold.

#1. Jalen Milroe is the most important Alabama returnee in 2024

Jalen Milroe is the most important returning Alabama player after a phenomenal season under Nick Saban in which he had to distinguish himself as the QB1 well into the season.

He threw for 2,834 yards resulting in 23 touchdowns on 65.8% completion, he also had 531 yards on 161 carries resulting in 12 touchdowns and finished No. 6 in the Heisman Trophy voting after leading the Crimson Tide to the SEC championship game win against coach Kirby Smart's Georgia Bulldogs.

In the last three years, Nick Sheridan is the third offensive coordinator that Milroe has had to work with at Alabama, and he has had to learn a new offensive scheme under coach Kalen DeBoer.

During a spring training news conference, DeBoer expressed his admiration for Milroe's dual-threat capabilities.

"He's certainly got a different skill set. Him as a runner is something that you have to make sure that you're gonna be able to utilize. He's gotta be able to distribute the football and make the throws, make the reads. He's really growing and developing in that way," DeBoer said.

Milroe, like Michael Penix Jr., might be the difference between Kalen DeBoer having a successful start to his Alabama tenure as the successor to the legendary Nick Saban.