The South Alabama roster story
In 2016, 42 of 122 roster spots were filled by Alabama players not previously rostered elsewhere in the data. On the 2026 roster, 34 of 117 fit the same definition. The number of players previously rostered elsewhere changed from 3 to 24.
Of the 24 players previously rostered elsewhere, 11 are from Alabama.
The median hometown distance moved from 274 mi in 2016 to 211 mi on the 2026 roster. The reliable geography record begins in 2008. Among players with a known home state, 45% were from Alabama, compared with 39% 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 | 39.1% | 39.0% | |
| Previously rostered elsewhere | 2.8% | 20.8% |
The 2026 roster
- 279 miAverage hometown distanceAverage hometown distance among 113 located players.
- 38.8%In-state38.8% of players with a known home state are from Alabama.
- 20.4%Backyard20.4% of players with a located hometown grew up within 100 miles of campus.
- 20.5%Previously rostered elsewhere20.5% of the roster appeared on another college roster in an earlier season.
Where South 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 South Alabama's players come from?
| Season | Roster | In-state | Rostered elsewhere | Radius |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 117 | 38.8% | 20.5% | 211 mi |
| 2025 | 117 | 43.1% | 25.6% | 181 mi |
| 2024 | 122 | 49.2% | 23.8% | 177 mi |
| 2023 | 119 | 47.9% | 24.4% | 176 mi |
| 2022 | 115 | 49.6% | 20.9% | 168 mi |
| 2021 | 120 | 44.2% | 9.2% | 207 mi |
| 2020 | 117 | 43.6% | 3.4% | 195 mi |
| 2019 | 123 | 42.3% | 1.6% | 194 mi |
| 2018 | 113 | 46.9% | 3.5% | 211 mi |
| 2017 | 119 | 39.5% | 2.5% | 233 mi |
| 2016 | 122 | 36.4% | 2.5% | 274 mi |
| 2015 | 117 | 44.8% | 4.3% | 214 mi |
| 2014 | 119 | 48.3% | 2.5% | 207 mi |
| 2013 | 115 | 45.1% | 1.7% | 222 mi |
| 2012 | 113 | 44.1% | 1.8% | 205 mi |
| 2011archive | 112 | 47.7% | — | 202 mi |
| 2010archive | 118 | 46.6% | — | 161 mi |
| 2009archive | 114 | 49.1% | — | 153 mi |
| 2008archive | 79 | 44.9% | — | 131 mi |
In-state shares use players with a known home state. Radius uses located hometowns.
archive = official athletic-site roster. “Proxy” is the share listing a previous school where that field behaved like a transfer field; it is not the same measure as the share previously rostered elsewhere.
Where the roster grew up
Located hometowns on the 2026 roster, with campus marked and the Homecoming Radius circled.
Homecoming Radius: 211 mi