The Alabama roster story
In 2016, 46 of 129 roster spots were filled by Alabama players not previously rostered elsewhere in the data. On the 2026 roster, 41 of 120 fit the same definition. The number of players previously rostered elsewhere changed from 2 to 21.
The median hometown distance moved from 262 mi in 2016 to 218 mi on the 2026 roster.
Before and during the portal era
2016–18 compared with 2021–25
- In-state, not rostered elsewhere
- Previously rostered elsewhere
| Measure | 2016–18 | 2021–25 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state, not rostered elsewhere | 36.0% | 36.9% | |
| Previously rostered elsewhere | 1.9% | 8.1% |
The 2026 roster
- 475 miAverage hometown distanceAverage hometown distance among 116 located players.
- 36.7%In-state36.7% of players with a known home state are from Alabama.
- 24.1%Backyard24.1% of players with a located hometown grew up within 100 miles of campus.
- 17.5%Previously rostered elsewhere17.5% of the roster appeared on another college roster in an earlier season.
Where Alabama ranks
Homecoming Radius over time
The median hometown-to-campus distance, by season. The dotted line is the FBS median.
Roster composition over time
Where the in-state lens draws the line: home-state players with and without an earlier college roster, out-of-state players with and without one, and players with unknown geography. This chart begins where stable athlete IDs make transfer detection possible; the radius chart above carries the official-archive geography farther back.
Where do Alabama's players come from?
| Season | Roster | In-state | Rostered elsewhere | Radius |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 120 | 36.7% | 17.5% | 218 mi |
| 2025 | 126 | 37.3% | 16.7% | 250 mi |
| 2024 | 133 | 42.9% | 10.5% | 188 mi |
| 2023 | 138 | 41.6% | 5.8% | 206 mi |
| 2022 | 136 | 34.1% | 4.4% | 270 mi |
| 2021 | 125 | 35.5% | 3.2% | 278 mi |
| 2020 | 135 | 36.8% | 3.0% | 243 mi |
| 2019 | 127 | 37.0% | 0.8% | 234 mi |
| 2018 | 118 | 37.3% | 2.5% | 245 mi |
| 2017 | 126 | 35.7% | 1.6% | 239 mi |
| 2016 | 129 | 36.4% | 1.6% | 262 mi |
| 2015 | 123 | 32.8% | 1.6% | 270 mi |
| 2014 | 125 | 35.5% | 0.8% | 224 mi |
| 2013 | 115 | 32.2% | 0.0% | 212 mi |
| 2012 | 119 | 40.7% | 0.0% | 194 mi |
| 2011 | 119 | 49.6% | 0.0% | 176 mi |
| 2010 | 119 | 57.1% | 0.0% | 176 mi |
| 2009 | 104 | 52.9% | 1.0% | 175 mi |
In-state shares use players with a known home state. Radius uses located hometowns.
Where the roster grew up
Located hometowns on the 2026 roster, with campus marked and the Homecoming Radius circled.
Homecoming Radius: 218 mi