Alabama Football: Three breakout Sophomores to watch

Deontae Lawson came to Tuscaloosa as a highly touted linebacker, a four-star recruit who was ranked as the seventh-best player in the country at his position. After an impressive A-Day showing, Lawson didn’t record any stats during the 2021 season.

Lawson is a very athletic player who will enter his redshirt freshman season as a leading candidate to fill the weakside linebacker position vacated by Christian Harris. With the return of veteran Jaylen Moody, the job will not be easily earned, but Lawson should have every opportunity to win the position.

If he can do so, Lawson should be able to put his abilities on full display. He will be the only true “newcomer” on a very seasoned defense. Everyone around him will have already had extensive SEC experience. Lawson would benefit from having a solid defensive line and two of the nation’s top edge rushers in front of him.

With senior Henry To’o To’o calling the shots, Lawson would be free to run sideline-to-sideline, making plays all over the field. He could blitz without hesitating or second-guessing. He could do his job with confidence, and generally play with the reckless abandon that the Alabama linebacking corps has lacked, for the most part, over the last several seasons.