First look at the Alabama DL at fall camp is absolutely unreal

Wednesday was only Day 1 of fall camp, but the excitement for Kalen DeBoer’s second year in Tuscaloosa has already been building for quite a while. Much of that excitement is rooted in the overwhelming amount of talent that DeBoer and his predecessor, only the greatest coach of all time, collectively assembled at Alabama. 

A fair share of that talent resides along the defensive line. On Wednesday, they weren’t even hitting each other, let alone another SEC opponent, but the first glimpse of that group should only fuel the flames of optimism surrounding this team because, boy did they look scary. 

Alabama’s defensive line could be one of the best in the country

LT Overton and Tim Keenan III were two of Alabama’s three representatives on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preason watchlist, which is awarded to the best defensive player in the country each year. With Overton on the edge and Keenan on the interior, Alabama could have one of the best defensive line duos in the country, but the question that DeBoer and Kane Wommack will hope to answer at fall camp is: Do they have enough depth for it to be one of the most dominant units in the country? 

Alabama’s defense finished 10th in EPA/play last season and 25th in success rate, but those season-long numbers mask the major issues that cropped up in losses to Vanderbilt and Oklahoma. Particularly in the 40-35 loss to the Commodores, the Tide just didn’t get enough pressure. 

In that matchup, Diego Pavia was pressured on seven of his 23 dropbacks, but not sacked once. To his credit, he delivered his best throw of the game under pressure, a fourth-down touchdown pass late in the third quarter, but when kept clean, Pavia carved up the Alabama secondary to the tune of 13/16 for 180 yards and a touchdown. 

The secondary should be improved in Year 2 under Wommack with four returning starters, but SEC quarterbacks, Pavia included, are too good operating from a clean pocket to rely solely on coverage to make up for an underwhelming pass-rush. 

For the season, Overton led the Alabama defense in QB pressures with 39, but parlayed that success and his impressive 18 percent pass-rush win-rate into only two sacks. Beyond Overton, no other Alabama defender recorded more than 20 QB pressures; Jihaad Campbell was second on the defense with 20. 

Though he won’t be a starter on the unit that is likely to primarily be comprised of Overton, Keenan, James Smith, and Qua Russaw, potentially 2023 five-star Keon Keeley could emerge as an impactful force in his third season with the program following a position change and body transformation last offseason. 

If not Keeley, Alabama could find production from Florida transfer Kelby Collins, who recorded 20 pressures in 2023 as a true freshman before battling injuries and falling out of favor in Gainesville last season. 

The first look at a unit with so much talent will always be exciting, but Alabama’s defensive line will need to be more productive this season for the Crimson Tide to return to the College Football Playoff and the top of the SEC.