The Alabama Football defense will have to do more in 2021 than it did in 2020. Let’s review the defensive line.
The Alabama football defensive front must replace its most disruptive and most productive player in probable NFL first-round pick, Christian Barmore. Barmore led the Crimson Tide defensive front last season with 37 tackles (22 solo), 9.5 tackles for a loss and eight sacks. Replacing Barmore will not be easy for Alabama football assistant, Freddie Roach.
The two guys most capable of leading the 2021 defensive line are Phidarian Mathis and Byron Young. Mathis was particularly effective late in the season and finished with 31 tackles, five tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks. Throughout the season, Young put up similar numbers with 29 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss and one sack.
The good news for the ’21 Crimson Tide defense is it returns 10 defensive linemen. Other than Stephon Wynn Jr. and Braylen Ingraham, who each played in only two games, the other eight took part in the defensive line rotation. Freshman Jamil Burroughs and the not always healthy LaBryan Ray played less than the rest of the main group and combined the pair contributed 17 tackles.
D.J. Dale, Justin Eboigbe and Tim Smith did more, with the trio combining for 55 tackles, three tackles for a loss and 2 sacks.
Added to the defensive front mix will be redshirt freshman, Jah-Marien Latham (who did not play in 2020), and 2021 freshmen Monkell Goodwine, Tim Keenan, Anquin Barnes and Damon Payne. A chop block last October ended Keenan’s high school career. His availability for fall camp is doubtful. There have been rumors Keenan may not be able to play until well into the fall and might accept a grayshirt option.
Among the other three new guys, Alabama football insiders speculate Monkell Goodwine and Damon Payne have the best chance to break into the regular rotation in 2021. Goodwine is an early enrollee. The former 5-Star, Damon Payne will not enroll until summer. As a 4-Star recruit, Goodwine was the No. 6 strong-side defensive end in the 247Sports Composite and the No. 91 player overall. Physically, Goodwine is believed ready to push for snaps next fall.
The Alabama football staff continues its pursuit of 5-Star, SDE, J.T. Tulmoloau. It is expected the No. 3 overall player in the 2021 class could not only play next season but become an impact player.
Check out the first two parts in this series: Bigger Load – Secondary and Bigger Load – Linebackers.
Even without adding Tulmoloau, Freddie Roach can go deep in 2021. If he chooses, a 9 or 10 man rotation can be used without any serious dropoff in talent.