The Transfer Portal is mostly closed for the winter cycle save for the teams still alive in the College Football Playoff. Alabama has seen its fair share of roster attrition, but defensively the Crimson Tide has to feel pretty good about where it sits for 2025.
Alabama returns eight starters from last season, a ninth who gained starting experience due to injury, and a 10th who seems poised for a breakout 2025 after coming on toward the end of the season (James Smith).
Alabama finished the season ranked 10th in yards per play defense under first-year defensive coordinator Kane Wommack. With a second year in his system, Alabama should be even better in 2025.
Replacing Jihaad Campbell and Malachi Moore will not be an easy task, but the Crimson Tide has depth, experience, and a lot of talent at all three levels of the defense. Alabama got great news with Deontae Lawson, Tim Keenan III, LT Overton, Domani Jackson, Justin Jefferson, and Keon Sabb all returning for another season instead of declaring for the NFL Draft.
On paper, the Crimson Tide might have the best defense in the country next season.
Let's take a way too early look at what Alabama's defensive depth chart might look like next season:
Alabama's projected 2025 defensive depth chart
Defensive Line:
Bandit: LT Overton (SR)
Backup: Kelby Collins (JR)
Depth: Keon Keeley (RS SO), Jordan Renaud (RS SO)
NT: Tim Keenan III (RS SR)
Backup: Jeremiah Beaman (RS FR)
Depth: Steve Mboumoua (FR)
DT: James Smith (JR)
Backup: Edric Hill (RS SO)
Depth: Isaia Faga (RS FR), London Simmons (FR)
I still think Kalen DeBoer and company would be wise to try and target another defensive lineman to add to his rotation at nose or defensive tackle. The Crimson Tide is deep at Bandit but could use another experienced body on the inside.
Tim Keenan and James Smith will be a formidable starting duo, but behind those guys is a dearth of experience. As is, Alabama will have to hope young players like Jeremiah Beaman and Edric Hill are ready for increased roles next season.
Alabama only signed two defensive tackles in the 2025 class, JUCO transfer Steve Mboumoua, who initially signed with Alabama last year, and 3-star London Simmons.
With Alabama's depth at Bandit, it wouldn't be shocking if they tried to make a positional switch and bulk up either Keon Keeley or Jordan Renaud to add some depth. Keeley is listed at 277 pounds and could be pretty disruptive on the interior.
With LT Overton and Florida transfer Kelby Collins, Alabama will have a nice 1-2 punch at Bandit.
Linebacker:
Wolf: Qua Russaw (RS SO)
Backup: Jah-Marien Latham (RS SR) or Yhonzae Pierre (RS SO)
Depth: Kevonte Henry (JR), Noah Carter (RS FR), Justin Hill (FR)
Mike: Justin Jefferson (RS SR) or Nikhai Hill-Green (SR)
Backup:
Depth: Darrell Johnson (FR), Abduall Sanders (FR)
Sting: Deontae Lawson (RS SR)
Backup: Cayden Jones (RS FR)
Depth: QB Reese (RS FR), Luke Metz (FR)
One interesting note is that Alabama plans to permanently move Jah-Marien Latham, who played the Bandit position in 2024 and was listed as a co-starter with Overton, to the WOLF position. Latham practiced at WOLF during bowl preparation and got some snaps there. He'll give Alabama a bigger option on the outside who can probably set the edge better than some of the smaller players.
Qua Russaw had a breakout second season on campus and will enter the year as the unquestioned starter. If he can develop more as a pass rusher, he's got first-round pick potential.
Alabama has some interesting depth behind Russaw and Latham. Yhonzae Pierre will be tough to keep off the field, and Alabama landed the top JUCO edge in the portal in Kevonte Henry, who will undoubtedly come in ready to compete for snaps. Noah Carter and Justin Hill are intriguing options for the future.
In the off-ball linebacker spots, Alabama unexpectedly will welcome back both Deontae Lawson and Justin Jefferson. They also added Colorado All-Big 12 LB Nikhai Hill-Green, which gives the Crimson Tide three reliable options at LB this year. If Lawson is healthy, he'll be the starter at STING and the signal-caller, leaving the Mike position to be a fight between Jefferson and Hill-Green, with both likely to see playing time regardless of who is the "starter."
Alabama will be relying on younger players for depth behind those three after losing Justin Okoronkwo and Jeremiah Campbell to the Transfer Portal. Redshirt freshman Cayden Jones has impressed the coaches in practice and should see an increased role.
Secondary:
LCB: Domani Jackson (SR)
Backup: Cameron Calhoun (JR)
Depth: Chuck McDonald (FR)
SS: Bray Hubbard (JR)
Backup: Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. (RS FR)
Depth: Ivan Taylor (FR)
FS: Keon Sabb (RS JR)
Backup: Zay Mincey (SO)
Depth: Kameron Howard (JR)
RCB: Zabien Brown (SO)
Backup: Dijon Lee (FR)
Depth: ?
Husky: DaShawn Jones (RS JR)
Backup: Red Morgan (SO)
Alabama might have the best starting cornerback duo in the country in rising senior Domani Jackson and rising sophomore Zabien Brown. Jackson was a lockdown corner all year and played excellent in his first year in Tuscaloosa after transferring from USC. Brown was one of the best freshmen in the country and should take another step in his second year in the program.
Alabama added Utah transfer Cameron Calhoun in the Transfer Portal and he'll compete for playing time at both corner spots and likely be a factor in the Husky competition.
The depth behind those guys will be questionable. I have no idea what Alabama will do with Jaylen Mbakwe. Will he be strictly a WR moving forward or will be split time at both WR and CB? Alabama certainly could use the experienced depth at corner, and Mbakwe saw plenty of meaningful snaps in his freshman season.
If Mbakwe is strictly a wide receiver, Alabama will have to hope that one of Dijon Lee or Chuck McDonald is ready to play as freshmen.
At safety, Keon Sabb was playing at a high level before his broken foot against Tennessee. Bray Hubbard filled in admirably and both are likely going to be starters next season. Don't count out Zay Mincey, however. The rising sophomore made the move to safety from corner and started in place of the injured Malachi Moore in the ReliaQuest Bowl and seemed to play well. He will push to get on the field.
At Husky, Alabama liked what it got out of DaShawn Jones down the stretch of the season with injuries to DeVonta Smith and Red Morgan. Smith transferred to Notre Dame, but Morgan will be back and will factor into the competition. As mentioned above, I wouldn't be surprised to see Calhoun competing for that spot, too.
Guys like Mincey and Jones will give Alabama some flexibility and both could play corner if needed due to injury. I wouldn't mind seeing the Crimson Tide try and target one more corner in the portal during the spring window, though it won't be easy with limited playing time available.