This is a weekly article series examining the development of one Alabama Football player. Last week, the player chosen was junior linebacker, Keith Holcombe. This week, the player chosen is freshman linebacker, Dylan Moses.
Last week, Keith Holcombe was chosen as the player to watch and many Alabama football fans wanted to turn away. Holcombe struggled with Mississippi State’s read option, missed crucial tackles on quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, and committed a questionable pass interference.
In Holcombe’s defense, he has still been great for the Tide and Fitzgerald is an amazing athlete. However, Alabama showed some alarming vulnerability in an already depleted unit with Holcombe in at linebacker.
ICYMI: Defense needs to make it 3rd & Desperate
Due to Mercer having basically a zero percent chance to beat Alabama, expect Nick Saban to experiment with players at the linebacker position. One player to watch closely in different packages is freshman Dylan Moses.
Coach Saban made it known that the Tide will be looking for things they need to improve as well as build team chemistry. Code word for experiment with the lesser opponent.
During a recent interview, coach Saban also talked about the freshman linebacker’s opportunity to play more and his development:
"“I think getting the additional reps in practice has really helped his confidence, and hopefully we’ll get to play him a little bit more and that’ll continue to develop because we don’t have a lot of depth at the position and he’s certainly a guy that certainly has the potential to be a really good player for us when he gets the knowledge and experience that he needs to go out there and play with confidence.”"
With the possible return of linebacker Christian Miller before the Iron Bowl, Moses must use this opportunity to impress.
Moses is no stranger to the spotlight
There aren’t many players who can say that the University of Alabama had their eyes on them since middle school. There are even fewer who can say that they actually received a scholarship offer in middle school.
One of the few was Dylan Moses.
Moses first sprang onto the scene when LSU offered him a scholarship while he was in just the eighth grade. The Crimson Tide soon followed suit.
In high school, Moses was a force to be reckoned with as soon as he was given a chance. So much so that by his junior year he was rated as a five-star prospect and the number two linebacker in the nation.
His high school accolades include:
- Parade Magazine National Player of the Year (2017)
- Parade First Team All-American (2017)
- 2016 Butkus Award (nation’s top linebacker)
- USA Today First Team All-American (2016)
- MaxPreps First Team All-American (2016)
- MaxPreps Second-Team All-American (2015)
Although he’s just a freshman, and it’s late in the season, the Tide may need to rely heavily on Moses should he perform well against Mercer.
Next: Alabama Football: Christian Miller to return for Auburn game
Next week, we will examine the development of another Alabama football player on their path to becoming a routine contributor and/or better overall player for the Tide. Connect with us on Facebook and share your thoughts on which player’s development is vital for the 2017 Alabama football team.