Position Week: Bold predictions for Alabama’s inside linebacker room

BamaOnLine will spend these summer months breaking down the position groups on Alabama’s 2023 roster leading up to the start of preseason camp. We continue with the inside linebackers.

To continue ILB week, members of the BOL team staff each shared a bold prediction for the fall.

Charlie Potter

An ILB will finish with double-digit TFLs

Alabama finished the 2022 season with 90 tackles for loss, which was just five away from the SEC lead (Missouri, 94). While Henry To’oTo’o and Jaylen Moody recorded eight apiece and were tied with Dallas Turner for third place on the Tide defense, neither eclipsed double digits like Christian Harris (12.5) did the year before or other disruptive inside ‘backers like Rashaan Evans, Reuben Foster or Reggie Ragland. With a new ILB coach and defensive coordinator, this position could be utilized a bit differently this fall, and given the better speed and athleticism of some of the players here, it’s easy to think they can make more negative plays.

Travis Reier

An Alabama inside linebacker will intercept a pass in 2023

Last time it happened? Have to go back to the 2021 season opener, when Jaylen Moody picked off a Miami pass in the Crimson Tide’s 44-13 win over the Hurricanes.

Not that UA inside linebackers have been interception machines of late —- the last player at the position to record multiple picks in a season was Mack Wilson in 2018 — but prior to last season, the position had produced an interception in 14 of the last 15 seasons.

If there is an area where Deontae Lawson has appeared most at ease the last two seasons, it’s been in pass coverage. Assuming he’s the every down choice in the middle this season, Lawson would be a good bet to snap the position’s 27-game drought.

Clint Lamb

Jefferson finishes the season as Alabama’s biggest difference-maker at ILB

Justin Jefferson isn’t projected to start right now. In fact, the top defensive player from the JUCO ranks isn’t currently included in the top-3 based on what we saw throughout the spring. Despite missing all of spring practice due to an injury, we know Deontae Lawson will be included on that list. The veteran is projected to be the team’s top off-ball linebacker, after all. With Lawson out, we saw Georgia transfer Trezmen Marshall and former five-star Jihaad Campbell working with the first-team defense, which puts Jefferson at least fourth once Lawson returns.

Just predicting that Jefferson eventually takes over as a starter would be considered bold, but I’m not stopping there. We’re taking this one a step further. Don’t get me wrong, Lawson will play the most snaps amongst the off-ball guys and should make a noticeable difference at MIKE. But if Jefferson can find his way onto the field at some point in 2023, he possesses the traits needed to eventually be Alabama’s biggest difference-maker at the position.

Yes, he’s somewhat undersized (6-foot-1, 225 pounds), but he more than makes up for it with his aggression, anticipation and ultra-rare closing speed. Not only can he beat blockers to a spot consistently, but he’s a vicious hitter who can be an alpha and tone-setter on Alabama’s defense. Combine his jarring hits with top-notch cover traits, and you’ve got a linebacker ready to generate a game-changing turnover at a moment’s notice. With a seasoned Jaheim Oatis eating up space in front of Lawson and Jefferson, combining their run-and-hit styles would fit perfectly in Kevin Steele’s defense.

Jimmy Stein

Platoon?

The word “platoon” is more often associated with baseball. The ol’ righty-lefty matchups between pitcher and hitter. However, it can be applicable to football as well.

The game is more specialized than ever. You have your nickel corners, your dime safeties, your nickel rabbits, your “move” tight ends, your backs who are actually wide receivers. They even get drafted by the Lions with the 12th pick.

Alabama has so many quality candidates to start at the two inside linebacker positions, my bold prediction is that coach Nick Saban elects to go with a platoon-type situation, playing one or more players in run defense situations and one or even two others in pass defense situations. He’s done this before with previous teams, though rarely.

I predict Deontae Lawson and Trezman Marshall will play the most snaps inside. But perhaps in pass defense situations you see Justin Jefferson, in pass “rush” situations from the inside, maybe you see Jihaad Campbell. In short-yardage run defense circumstances like 3rd and 1, maybe Kendrick Blackshire makes an appearance? Point is, with so, so many good options, the platoon route may be the right play call.

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