Sugar Bowl Look Back: Grading the Alabama Football Defense

The defense for Alabama football was not always stout in the 2022 Sugar Bowl, but it made the plays necessary to win the game in convincing fashion.

The Alabama defense allowed just 20 points in the game, including a garbage time Wildcat touchdown, despite giving up over 400 yards of offense. Kansas State also finished the game with more first downs and time of possession than Alabama.

Still, it was an encouraging performance from the Crimson Tide defense. Bama got multiple red zone stops and forced two turnovers, which it has struggled to do all season.

The 191 rushing yards it allowed looks bad on paper, but Kansas State racked up nearly half of that yardage on one play. Outside of Deuce Vaughn’s 88-yard touchdown tote, Alabama was fairly stingy against the run.

Alabama Football Defensive Line: C+

Kansas State’s two running backs, Deuce Vaughn and DJ Giddens, combined for 200 rushing yards on 31 carries (6.5 yards per carry). While these numbers rely heavily on explosive plays, those plays count nonetheless.

This year’s Alabama defensive line has never made a huge statistical impact, and the Sugar Bowl was no exception. In fact, Bama finished the game with eight tackles for loss and two sacks, none of which came from the defensive line.

Byron Young, Damon Payne, and Jaheim Oatis led the way with two tackles apiece. Oatis pushed the pocket better than any of the interior linemen, at one point stuffing a Will Howard pass.

Alabama Football Linebackers: B-

The Bama linebackers are equally responsible for the gaps in the run defense. Redshirt freshman Deontae Lawson got the start and probably played the best of the group, notching six tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.

Henry To’o To’o played his last game in an Alabama uniform and recorded five tackles with one tackle for loss. Chris Braswell totaled four stops on the edge, playing a more featured role with Will Anderson Jr. getting limited snaps.

Freshmen Shawn Murphy and Jihaad Campbell joined the inside linebacker rotation and played well, with Murphy getting a tackle and a pass breakup.

Alabama Football Secondary: A

The Alabama secondary was lights out against Kansas State, led by Brian Branch. Branch finished with 12 tackles, four tackles for loss, a sack, and an interception. Alabama tackle leader DeMarcco Hellams did not disappoint, posting 13 tackles. Jordan Battle added nine tackles and an interception, his first of the season.

Malachi Moore, who typically plays behind Branch, had a strong game with four tackles and a sack. Kristian Story came off the bench to make three tackles from his safety position.

At the starting cornerback spots, Eli Ricks recorded six tackles while Kool-Aid McKinstry broke up three passes. McKinstry had a team-high 15 pass breakups for the season.

Alabama held K-State quarterback Will Howard, who was efficient all year, to just a 51 percent completion rate and just 6.0 yards per attempt. Howard entered the game having thrown just two interceptions all season. The Tide picked him off twice, and kept him out of the end zone entirely.

While most of this secondary is moving on, this is a great momentum game leading into the offseason. Guys like lockdown corner Kool-Aid McKinstry and versatile safety Malachi Moore will take the leadership torch in 2023.

Alabama Football Special Teams: A-

Kicker Will Reichard, who has since announced his return to the program, connected on a 49-yard field goal and all six of his extra point attempts in the game. Punter James Burnip’s five boots averaged 38.4 yards, and allowed just one punt return yard all game.

The returns of Reichard, Burnip, and electric punt returner Kool-Aid McKinstry should make Alabama’s special teams units a major strength in 2023.