The college football offseason is a grind that begins in early January and lasts until the final days of August, and each coach hones in on the microscopic details to ensure his program is prepared for the fall.

Strength and conditioning coaches are devoted to developing each player physically to prepare for the rigorous nature of the season, but nothing is more essential than maintaining players’ health.

The injury bug has hit around the country as both Texas and Texas A&M have suffered season-ending injuries from their running backs.

Following Alabama’s first fall scrimmage on Saturday, head coach Kalen DeBoer predicated avoiding injury.

“Probably just staying healthy. I feel good about where we’re at,” DeBoer said of his biggest concern coming out of the scrimmage. “We need all the reps.

“We have some veterans, there’s no doubt about it, but we certainly have a lot of young guys that need to continue to develop and they are important, if they are in the two’s, or if they’re not in the one’s, they’re definitely in the two rotations so those reps are invaluable to those guys. Not just for them but also the trust that it takes for a whole unit.”

This season will test each team’s depth more than ever as the expanded playoff brings a longer schedule for teams that have hopes of playing for a national title.

Not only is the postseason longer, but schedules are deeper and littered with high level matchups.

Alabama certainly has the talent in its starting 22, but continuously working in the two’s or three’s could be what catapults the Tide in December and January.