Alabama Football: Linebacker returns to position of strength for the Crimson Tide
What’s been one of the best position groups under the Alabama football, Nick Saban era? It’s the linebackers, The talent and depth for a decade have been something special. After the 2019 season, it was obvious the depth was missing at linebacker. From the inside to the outside, The linebacker depth wasn’t there as it was in the past. What was going to become of the group heading into the 2020 season? The biggest name of course was Dylan Moses, what would Moses decide to do.
Would he go to the NFL Draft or come back for his senior season? Moses decided to come back and because of that, linebacker depth is back. Every Alabama fan knows how big that is for this defense. Without Moses, the hole in the middle was like Tua being out for the offense. Look for Moses to not only play the Mike linebacker (the QB of the defense) but look for him to make a Reuben Foster type impact in his return.
The starting group of linebackers seems to be Christopher Allen as the outside linebacker. Moses and Harris inside with Ben Davis playing the Jack linebacker spot. That will be three seniors and one sophomore. Moses as the QB of the defense and Harris, having played last year as a freshman, will anchor the interior. Chris Allen also has career experience. The question will be how Ben Davis does. He seems to finally be healthy and is impressing the coaching staff with his IQ and willingness to work.
Alabama football fans remember the days with Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson. Those days could be back and even better to another level. So far, Drew Sanders and William Anderson have been business-like, while having electric potential. The key to linebacker depth for Alabama will be how those two players come along in pads as the year progresses. Add to the mix Shane Lee who played all 13 games last year with Christian Harris. Another future star is Demouy Kennedy playing inside linebacker.
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Will Anderson and Drew Sanders were both 5-star players coming out. Drew was regarded as a 5-star athlete but according to Steve Wiltfong he was a 5 star TE and Linebacker. Going as far to say he is as good as Arik Gilbert on offense. Sanders is also one of, the if not the best pass rusher, in the linebacker group class. Will Anderson was a slow riser in the rankings of 247 Sports. It was known that he was a good pass rusher and he was going to be a top 100 player. But after his senior year, reporters wondered just how good he was, so he went to the All American Game.
From the first rep, it was clear that Anderson was one of the best players in the entire class. Anderson absolutely destroyed the best offensive tackles in the group. Paris Johnson, who was ranked the No. 1 tackle, couldn’t stop him most of the time. Others as well had great troubles blocking him. Neutral observers said it was all business for Anderson. So far the Alabama staff can repeat those statements for both Will Anderson and Drew Sanders.
Moses coming back for his senior season and the two freshmen showing amazing promise are the reasons that for Alabama football, linebacker depth is back.