Alabama Fall Camp Preview: Linebackers

This Wednesday morning, Alabama will kick off 2024’s fall camp, the first under new head coach Kalen DeBoer. With the new staff comes a new defense with new terminology like Wolf and Sting. We are previewing a position group in a six-part series. Today: Linebacker.

Alabama will employ a 3-3 defense under new defensive coordinator Kane Wommack. There will also be new faces at linebacker. A few from last year’s squad have moved on to the NFL, especially outside, like Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell. The inside starters are back and will be a team strength.

In the new scheme, the outside linebacker is known as Wolf. This is a field-side edge defender who will play a highly versatile role. The Wolf has to rush the passer, set the edge in the run game and drop into pass coverage. He may also have to cover backs and tight ends in man and pursue ballcarriers backside. While the Wolf has edge responsibilities, this is a stand-up linebacker position most of the time.

The favorites competing at Wolf are senior Quandarrius Robinson and junior Keanu Koht. Robinson played quite a bit with the ones last year, but he will be new as a full-time starter. Koht has played much less, battling nagging injuries during much of his time at Alabama. He was healthy this spring and looked promising. What they lack in experience, they make up for with maturity and explosive play-making potential. Don’t sleep on these two.

They are backed by a slew of very young but very promising players: Qua Russaw and Yhonzae Pierre are redshirt freshmen and Noah Carter and Jayshawn Ross are true freshmen. They all have a ton of promise. Can, perhaps, Russaw cut into the snap share?

Inside, two Tide stars return from 2023. Deontae Lawson (Mike) returns and is looking to get through a season injury-free, which would be a first. When he has been healthy, he’s nothing short of a terror. Alongside Lawson will be Jihaad Campbell (Sting) who is coming off a strong 2023 and is primed to become one of America’s top defenders. It will be hard to top this duo in the college football landscape. Both are veteran, mature players who play with discipline, speed and physicality. Should they remain healthy all year long, expect the NFL scouts to take substantial notice of these two from Alabama.

Depth inside is a bit more problematic. Next up is a senior Justin Jefferson, who is inexperienced despite his age. There’s also Jeremiah Alexander, who converted from outside to inside in the past year. There’s a lot expected there and he could pan out but is probably a year away. The remaining crew of ILBs are all true freshmen: Justin Okoronkwo, Quinton Reese, Cayden Jones and Sterling Dixon. Expect most to redshirt.

Sum: High talent level veterans in the starting group at Alabama. The outside guys still have a lot to prove, but you have to like the maturity and the athleticism. The inside duo may be the best one in college football. Depth is ample outside, more questionable inside. Perhaps fall camp will create some excitement and hype for some of these younger, highly recruited ‘backers.

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