Coming and going: Tight ends

Tight ends

Brian Vogler will likely top the depth chart at tight end, but Alabama should be much better at H-back.

Departing: Michael Williams had 41 career starts and was fourth in team receiving his senior year with 24 catches for 183 yards and four touchdowns, including one in the BCS National Championship Game. What Alabama’s really going to miss, though, is his blocking, as Williams was like having another tackle on the field. Walk-on Kelly Johnson made five catches for 39 yards and did enough to get invited to the Raycom All-Star Classic

Remaining: Sophomores Harrison Jones, Corey McCarron and Brian Vogler; redshirt freshman Malcolm Faciane; true freshman Kurt Freitag redshirted. Junior running back/H-back Jalston Fowler is expected to get a medical redshirt, while redshirt freshman Brent Calloway will move back after serving as an emergency running back.

On the way in: Five-star prospect O.J. Howard has already enrolled, and with a good spring could put himself into position to contribute immediately. The product of Prattville (Ala.) Autauga Academy is 6-5, 221 pounds and is considered the top tight end prospect in the nation.

Statistics: Vogler was one of Alabama’s most improved players last season and will likely top the depth chart this spring. He played in all 14 games and had two receptions for 21 yards. Faciane played in eight games and Calloway 13, but mostly at running back. Jones played in 10 games, but didn’t play in the BCS National Championship Game due to a painful back injury.

What we said last year: Williams played in every game this past season, primarily has a blocking tight end but also had 16 receptions for 191 yards and two touchdowns -- including the one following a shift out of a field-goal formation to break open the Arkansas game. Jones and Vogler both played sparingly and had one reception, but both figure to be the regular rotation next season.

X-Factor: Although he also lined up at fullback and running back, Fowler showed signs of being a dynamic multiple-position weapon before sustaining a season-ending knee injury. Assuming he makes a full recovery from ACL surgery, Alabama will again have a major threat at H-back as Howard develops.

Coming and going series:
Running backs: http://alabama.247sports.com/Article/Alabama-coming-and-going-Running-backs-111409
Wide receivers: http://alabama.247sports.com/Article/Alabama-coming-and-going-Wide-receivers-111884
Offensive line: http://alabama.247sports.com/Article/Alabama-coming-and-going-Offensive-line-112609

Defensive line: http://alabama.247sports.com/Article/Alabama-coming-and-going-Defensive-line-111591
Linebackers: http://alabama.247sports.com/Article/Alabama-coming-and-going-Linebackers-112363
Defensive backs: http://alabama.247sports.com/Article/Alabama-coming-and-going-Defensive-backs-112739