Alabama Football Playoff Semifinal Sugar Bowl 2015 vs OSU

Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen (93) sacks Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones (12) 4th quarter during Alabama's 2015 Sugar Bowl and college football playoff semifinal game with Ohio State, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, at the Superdome in New Orleans. 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 2: Defensive line.

BY THE NUMBERS

Jarran Reed: 55 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss, one sack

A'Shawn Robinson: 49 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss

Jonathan Allen: 33 tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks

D.J. Pettway: 23 tackles, three tackles for a loss, two sacks

Dalvin Tomlinson: 22 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks

Da'Shawn Hand: Seven tackles, two sacks

Darren Lake: Five tackles

Josh Frazier: One tackle, one sack

THE DEPARTED

Brandon Ivory: 13 tackles, 0.5 tackles for a loss

SPRING CAST

Defensive ends

Jonathan Allen

Jarran Reed

D.J. Pettway

Dalvin Tomlinson

Da'Shawn Hand

Dakota Ball

Stephen Hodge

Bernel Jones

Jake Long

Defensive tackles

A'Shawn Robinson

Jonathan Taylor

Darren Lake

Josh Frazier

O.J. Smith

Johnny Dwight

BURNING QUESTION

Will this group live up to its vast potential?

STAR ATTRACTIONS

Robinson and Allen are the two stars of this group, which is arguably the best defensive line in the country. Former NFL general manager Phil Savage, the color analyst for Alabama's radio broadcasts on the Crimson Tide Sports Network, has referred to Robinson as a "man-child" and an elite talent. A 6-foot-4, 320-pound junior from Fort Worth, Texas, Robinson had 38 tackles and 5.5 sacks as a freshman in 2013 before posting 49 tackles last year, including 6.5 for a loss. Robinson and Allen are both potential future first round picks. While Allen is not considered a top-notch pass rusher, he is a very good all-around player that is strong against the run and has the quickness, strength, skills and motor to be disruptive.

FLASH OF POTENTIAL

Hand will be part of a group that will see time at defensive end behind Allen and Reed. Rated by Rivals as the top overall prospect in last year's recruiting class, Hand flashed his potential at times as a freshman last season and is expected to play a bigger role this year.

WILD CARD

Taylor, a junior college transfer, will compete with Lake and Frazier for playing time at the nose tackle spot vacated by Brandon Ivory. The 6-foot-4, 335-pound Taylor started his college career at Georgia and played in 10 games as a redshirt freshman in 2013 before being dismissed from the team in July. Taylor spent last season at Copiah-Lincoln Junior College in Mississippi and recorded 44 tackles, including 11 for a loss and 4.5 sacks.

Five-star freshman Daron Payne will factor into the competition at nose tackle as well come fall practice.

FACTS OF LIFE

88.8 -- Alabama returns eight of the nine defensive linemen that posted a tackle last season from what was widely considered one of the best defensive lines in the country. Led by the line, the Tide finished last year ranked fourth nationally in rush defense.

QUOTABLE

"We feel like [Jarran Reed] and A'Shawn have been the rock-solid core for our defensive line. Those two guys have been very important to our defensive line as a whole this year."

-- Allen in December