Alabama Football: Fans have been complaining about Dylan Moses all season. The Crimson Tide defensive leader deserves an apology.
It is past time for too many Alabama football fans to own up to a misplaced opinion. At the least, it is time to admit negative opinions of Dylan Moses have been unfairly formed. Dylan Moses was expected to return from his knee injury as one of the most fearsome linebackers in college football. To the extent he has come up short, we now know why.
On Thursday, Dylan Moses said,
"The first time I felt 100-percent in myself was the very first game of the season against Missouri, and then after that, just all throughout the season, it was just constant pain. It was just something I had to persevere through."
Alabama football fans would do well to reconnect with past enthusiasm about Moses. When the recruiting stars of the 2017 class were being pursued, Moses was in high demand. The Baton Rouge native played most of his high school career within walking distance of LSU’s Tiger Stadium. The 5-Star recruit was the No. 13 player overall in the 2017 class.
LSU defensive coordinator, Dave Aranda and one of college football’s top recruiters, LSU assistant, Corey Raymond made Moses their top priority. They failed. The Alabama Crimson Tide offered Moses a scholarship when he was in the eighth grade. Moses finished his high school career at IMG in Bradenton, FL, at least partially for the physical distance it gave from the state of Louisiana.
Moses did not play a down last season due to a serious knee injury. He still suited up for one game. When LSU came to Tuscaloosa, Moses asked Nick Saban if he could dress out. He had no chance to play, but Dylan hoped being in uniform on the sideline would motivate his teammates. To Dylan, it was the best way he could show everyone involved with the Alabama football program how much he cared.
Unfortunately, when Moses failed to reach beast-mode this season, some Crimson Tide fans rushed to blame him for the Tide’s defensive weaknesses. A recounting of the complaints is not needed. They have been repeatedly posted on Crimson Tide message boards.
Perhaps some of the complaints had merit. But overall, the value of Dylan Moses to the team was grossly undervalued. On Thursday, Nick Saban was clear,
"Dylan has done an outstanding job.I don’t think there’s any doubt that when Dylan plays he makes everyone else around him better.The players have confidence in him with his knowledge of the system and the scheme."
Moses has been given some credit this year. He was named to the All-SEC First Team and also an American Football Coaches Association, First-Team All-American. It is time for Alabama football fans to admit we were wrong about Dylan.
For the record, Dylan Moses leads the Alabama football team in tackles with 74 stops. He has done more than direct his teammates’ assignments.