re: 2018-19 Roster/Depth Chart breakdowns and updates

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ATLANTA -- Alabama will have one less linebacker this fall. At SEC Media Days on Wednesday, Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban confirmed why Keith Holcombe was left off Alabama’s 2018 roster in its latest media guide, as he announced the redshirt senior will focus on baseball and will not be a part of the football this fall.

“Keith Holcombe has done an outstanding job for us,” Saban said at the College Football Hall of Fame. “He’s been a great contributor not only on the field but a human being, outstanding student. Been a really, really good leader for us. And I would love for him to come back and be a part of our team, but I understand that he wanted to play baseball.

“He’s always wanted to play baseball. He’s had an opportunity to play baseball. We decided to give him the opportunity to go full-time with baseball this year and then he’d make a decision about whether he wanted to continue that year of eligibility of football. … And he has made that decision to play baseball and not be a part of our team.”

Holcombe opted to focus solely on baseball this spring instead of pulling double duty by going through spring practice with the football team and playing left field for coach Brad Bohannon.

The Tide’s everyday left fielder for most of the season, Holcombe played in 47 games with 45 starts. He ranked third on the team in hits (51) and finished baseball season tied for third with 11 multi-hit games, including three of UA’s six four-hit performances in 2018. In those games, he has finished a perfect 4-for-4 each time and reached base safely in every plate appearance.

On the gridiron last year, the Tuscaloosa, Ala., native provided depth for a linebacking corps that saw several players suffer injuries throughout the season. Making one start against Mississippi State, Holcombe totaled 38 tackles, including a team-high 11 on special teams.

With Holcombe choosing to continue only playing baseball for Alabama, the Tide football team is left without much experienced inside linebacker depth for the upcoming 2018 season. Mack Wilson and Dylan Moses are slated to be the starters at Mike and Will, but besides the pair of former 5-star recruits, no returning player has as much game experience as Holcombe.

The recent dismissal of VanDarius Cowan for violating team rules and injury to Terrell Lewis also adds to the lack of depth for the Crimson Tide’s 2018 linebacking corps ahead of fall camp.

“I’m not comfortable at any position on our team relative to the depth that we have,” Saban said. “I wish we had more depth, I wish we had more players, I wish more guys could contribute. But regardless of that circumstance, we will try to develop and create whatever we have to do to try to develop the depth at any position on our team. So, if it involves moving players, if it involves trying to enhance the development of younger players, then that’s what we’ll do.”

Alabama opens the 2018 football season on Sept. 1 against Louisville in Orlando, Fla.

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