Quarterbacks tend to get the spotlight as the de facto leaders on their teams. But there are plenty of important open competitions this spring beyond quarterback battles to keep an eye on. For starters, the two teams that played for a national championship last season, Alabama and Clemson, have All-Americans to replace along their defensive lines.
Here's a quick look at some of the more intriguing competitions to follow this spring:
Once again, Alabama has to plug in new starters across its roster. One of the most important changes will happen at nose guard, where Williams dominated last season.