Alabama Football G09 at LSU 2014

Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster (10) celebrates after a huge hit in the last play of regulation during the fourth quarter of the Alabama at LSU football game, Saturday, November 8, 2014, at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.com ORG XMIT: ALBIN401

(VASHA HUNT)

It's coming. Spring football starts again March 13 in Tuscaloosa as Alabama turns the page.

A few months after the 2014 season ended in the Sugar Bowl, the Crimson Tide will have some serious work to do this spring. Another new quarterback will see a rebuilt group of receivers while the defense has to replace key linebackers and defensive backs.

We'll take a day-by-day look at what to expect from the 15 spring practices before they get started. Day 4: Linebackers.

BY THE NUMBERS

Reggie Ragland:

Ryan Anderson:

Dillon Lee:

Reuben Foster:

Rashaan Evans:

Denzel Devall:

Tim Williams:

Shaun Dion Hamilton:

THE DEPARTED

Trey Depriest:

Xzavier Dickson:

SPRING CAST

ILB Reggie Ragland, Sr.

ILB Reuben Foster, Jr.

ILB Shaun Dion Hamilton, So.

ILB/OLB Dillon Lee, Sr.

ILB Keith Holcombe, R-Fr.

ILB Walker Jones, So.

ILB Gussie Busch, R-Fr.

ILB Paden Crowder, Sr.

OLB Denzel Devall, Sr.

OLB Ryan Anderson, Jr.

OLB Rashaan Evans, So.

OLB Tim Williams, Jr.

OLB Christian Miller, R-Fr.

OLB Jamey Mosley, R-Fr.

BURNING QUESTIONS

Can Reuben Foster stay healthy and establish himself as a viable, consistent and productive starter at inside linebacker next to Reggie Ragland? Who will replace Xzavier Dickson at outside linebacker and as a productive pass rusher?

STAR ATTRACTIONS

Reggie Ragland broke out as a junior last year, emerging as one of the more highly regarded inside linebackers in college football and the leader of Alabama's defense after two years as primarily a backup and special teams contributor. Ragland, whom Rivals rated as the top inside linebacker prospect in the Class of 2012, finished last year with 95 tackles, including 10.5 for a loss. CBS Sports ranks the 6-foot-2, 255-pound Ragland as the top draft prospect among rising senior inside linebackers. Ragland considered declaring for this year's NFL draft before deciding to return to Alabama for his senior season.

FLASH OF POTENTIAL

A former top recruit, Reuben Foster has been a physical, violent and emotional presence on special teams during his first two years with the Tide, developing a reputation as an explosive hitter for shots like the one he delivered on LSU running back/kick returner Leonard Fournette last year. Now, it is time for Foster to take the next step and to become a consistent factor on defense, especially with the Tide looking to replace three-year starter Trey Depriest at inside linebacker. One key will be staying healthy, as Foster has had problems with stingers.

One of Foster's former teammates at Auburn High School, sophomore Rashaan Evans, is a player to watch at outside linebacker. A former five-star recruit, Evans has great speed. Alabama seems to have high hopes for him as a pass rusher.

Evans primarily played on special teams as a freshman last season. He will compete for playing time with senior Denzel Devall, junior Ryan Anderson and junior Tim Williams.

WILD CARD

Sophomore Shaun Dion Hamilton was a top backup at inside linebacker as a freshman last year and will compete with Foster and likely Lee for Depriest's vacated starting spot. Former Alabama safety Nick Perry identified the 6-foot, 235-pound Hamilton as a player poised to break out during a recent interview with al.com.

"He was the primary backup to Trey Depriest and Reggie Ragland, and he's just a hitter," Perry said. "He's one of the hardest hitters out there on our team. I don't think a lot of people know about him, but he's going to be a baller, and I think he's going to play a really big role, a lot bigger than people think."

FACTS OF LIFE

6 -- Xzavier Dickson had a team-high nine sacks last season, six more than any other linebacker.

11 -- Denzel Devall is the only full-time starter returning at linebacker aside from Ragland. However, Devall only had 11 tackles and one tackle for a loss in eight games last season.

QUOTABLE

"We try to help [Ragland] out when we can, but he's a natural athlete. He has good instincts for pass rushing. There's not a lot that I can tell him because I'm so worried about myself, as are the other d-linemen. But he's definitely a good pass rusher."

-- Defensive end Jonathan Allen on Ragland