LT Overton's social media post paints a "Rosy" picture for his Alabama return

Alabama star defensive end LT Overton missed the SEC Championship Game and the opening round of the College Football Playoff with an undisclosed "illness." The exact issue holding him out hasn't been publicly stated.

Kalen DeBoer opened the door on Monday for Overton to potentially return for the Rose Bowl, stating that they would continue to monitor him and he certainly wouldn't rule him out this far away from the game. We're still over a week away from the matchup against Indiana.

In terms of sources on Overton's injury, there's no better one than Overton himself. And his latest Instagram post has Crimson Tide fans excited about him being able to play on New Year's Day:

LT Overton's return would be huge for Alabama in the Rose Bowl

It's too early to get too excited yet, but that's about as good a sign as you can get that Overton could be cleared to play in Pasadena.

Keon Keeley stepped up in a big way against Oklahoma with Overton out - and he's more than capable of holding down the fort - but the Alabama defense is better with Overton on the field.

And going against No. 1 Indiana, Alabama will need all the help it can get to potentially spring a Rose Bowl upset and advance to the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.

Overton started all 12 of Alabama's regular-season games at the Bandit defensive end position in Kane Wommack's defense. He finished second on the team in sacks with four, behind only Yhonzae Pierre.

His return could help buoy the Crimson Tide's effort in getting after Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, who has been well protected behind a strong Indiana offensive line.

Wommack has done excellent work building depth and developing players down the depth chart, but there's no replacement for the experience that Overton brings to the table.

If for no other reason, it would be nice for Overton to get to play in the Rose Bowl so that he has the chance to go out on his own terms instead of watching the end of his collegiate career from the sideline.