Playoff Capsule: Alabama prospects to watch for Packers fans

During the 2025 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers selected three players who competed in the 2024-2025 College Football Playoffs. The 2025-2026 College Football Playoff bracket is set and it's time to go through each team and highlight prospects who could be potential targets for Brian Gutekunst in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Kicking off these team-by-team capsules will be the Alabama Crimson Tide, who will square off against the Oklahoma Sooners on Friday, Dec. 19.

Nikhai Hill-Green, LB

Although he isn't a full-time starter, the Alabama linebacker flashes every week. During his first season with the Crimson Tide, the transfer from Colorado (and Charlotte and Michigan) has recorded 51 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 23 run stops. Hill-Green has long strides and sideline-to-sideline range. He has an impressive wingspan to lasso ballcarriers and get his hands up to knock down passes.

Nikhai Hill-Green with the peanut punch. Love his effort/pursuit on this play. pic.twitter.com/h2p8U9u2GH— Brennen Rupp (@Brennen_Rupp) November 13, 2025

Parker Brailsford, C

A transfer from Washington, Brailsford has started 25 games at center since joining Alabama in 2024. At 6-2 and 290 pounds, he's on the 'smaller' side. However, he's an excellent athlete and an efficient mover in the run game. In pass protection, he's got quick feet and is alert. This past season, Brailsford has given up one sack and 11 pressures.

Tim Keenan III, DT

A potential top priority for Green Bay this offseason will be bolstering its interior defensive line. They don't just need a space-eater, they need an active interior presence.

Keenan is a stout run defender. He's a roadblock in the middle of the line with a strong base to eat up double teams. The Alabama defensive tackle enters the college playoff with three tackles for loss, two sacks and 11 run stops. The numbers may not jump off the page, but his power at the point of attack does.

Tim Keenan III is a roadblock. The Alabama DT is stout and powerful.

The stats won’t jump off the page, but he’ll make an impact early in his career with his ability to clog up running lanes. pic.twitter.com/VC79i0hkfz— Brennen Rupp (@Brennen_Rupp) December 12, 2025

James Smith, DT

The Alabama defensive tackle has disruptive tendencies. You can see the juice and twitch with the way he explodes out of his stance. To go along with that quickness, he flashes power in his hands. Smith enters Friday night's matchup with 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He's a player whom the Packers could target in the upcoming draft as they look to add a disruptor to the interior of their line.

Alabama’s James Smith flashes some juice and has strong hands.

A player I’m excited to watch again next Friday. pic.twitter.com/QKB5E1KZpu— Brennen Rupp (@Brennen_Rupp) December 13, 2025

Isaiah Horton, WR

Horton is a big-bodied target with easy track speed. The 6-4 wide receiver is an explosive playmaker who has easy buildup speed to win vertically. He's an explosive playmaker and enters Friday night's matchup against the Sooners with eight touchdowns (35 receptions). The Miami transfer could opt to return to Alabama for a second season; however, there is no denying the physical tools. If he declares, he could wind up being a Top 100 pick.

Josh Cuevas, TE

The Alabama tight end will be back on the field for the Crimson Tide on Friday after missing the last three games due to an ankle injury. Cuevas isn't an explosive athlete, however he runs routes with urgency and is fluid in his movements. He has soft, reliable hands and is always searching for the chains. Out of his 30 receptions on the season, 22 of them have resulted in a first down.

It sounds like Josh Cuevas will return to action on Friday for Alabama. The Crimson Tide TE has 30 receptions on the season and 22 of those have resulted in a first down. pic.twitter.com/j3Yyk7GNmb— Brennen Rupp (@Brennen_Rupp) December 17, 2025

Deontae Lawson, LB

Lawson suffered a torn ACL last season and is coming on strong down the stretch. In the previous five games, Lawson has recorded 28 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 17 run stops, with one of those games being against Eastern Illinois, where he only played four snaps. He has looked explosive and is showcasing his range against the run.

Deontae Lawson had his best game of the season on Saturday. The Alabama LB recorded. 5 TFL and six run stops.

Coming off a torn ACL last year, he could be in store for a monster finish. pic.twitter.com/PD44tMHoUs— Brennen Rupp (@Brennen_Rupp) November 13, 2025

Justin Jefferson, LB

Jefferson is rangy and looks comfortable in coverage. He is alert and does a good job of keying on the quarterback's eyes. It will be worth monitoring what he weighs in at throughout the process. At 6-0 and 218 pounds, he may be too light for Green Bay's liking, but if he weighs around 225 the Packers could fall in love with his play speed.

Other notes

Germie Bernard is a well-rounded wide receiver who does a bit of everything for Alabama's offense. He's a round-two player and after drafting two wide receivers in the Top 100 last year, the Packers may not use premium draft capital on the position again.

LT Overton (defensive end) is likely going to miss the game for the Crimson Tide. The former five-star recruit has six tackles for loss, four sacks and 23 pressures.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Playoff Capsule: Alabama prospects to watch for Packers fans