2018 cannot technically be called a reloading year for the Alabama football defense. It is much more a rebuild with new full-season starters needed at nine positions. The good news is some of the new 2018 starters saw much action in 2018. Mack Wilson, Dylan Moses and Deionte Thompson played key roles late in the season, along with a few rotating defensive linemen.
Rebuild or reload, the defensive personnel will have several new faces. Some of those new faces are not even in Tuscaloosa yet. Summer freshmen enrollees can earn fall playing time, along with JUCO Tevita Musika.
Defensive Line
DT/NG
Starter: Quinnen Williams
Williams can play inside or outside and could easily do both next fall.
Backups: Tevita Musika and Phidarian Mathis
Others: True freshman Stephon Wynn will benefit from an early enroll and is expected to play in 2018. He too can play inside or outside. The other true freshman, Christian Barmore will join the team this summer and will probably work on the interior of the defensive line. The Alabama football staff believes Wynn and Barmore have considerable potential. Of the pair, Barmore may see more action in 2018.
Defensive End
Starters: Isaiah Buggs and Raekwon Davis
Backups: LaBryan Ray and Stephon Wynn
Raekwon Davis is poised for an outstanding season. He could well become college football’s top defensive lineman in 2018. Isaiah Buggs is also a top player and would get more attention if not playing next to Big Kwon.
With all the front positions, the rotation makes key backups almost starters. Ray could play almost as much as Buggs and Davis.
Potential big change during the season: Musika and Mathis perform so well, Williams could regularly rotate as a defensive end.
The 2018 Alabama football defensive line will be a strength of the team if Ray, Barmore and Musika play as well as anticipated.