Alabama Football Depth Chart Predictions: Linebackers
Alabama will enter the 2024 season with a slightly different defensive philosophy under Kane Wommack, who will coordinate the defense and coach the inside linebackers.
The Tide is dealing with a couple of very different scenarios, as it returns two of the best inside linebackers in college football but is tasked with replacing almost all of its production at outside linebacker.
On the edge, Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell leave behind a massive void, as both were highly disruptive against the run and as pass rushers. Who will step up in their absence?
Wolf
1. Quandarrius Robinson (Redshirt Senior)
2. Keanu Koht (Redshirt Junior)
3. Qua Russaw (Redshirt Freshman)
4. Yhonzae Pierre (Redshirt Freshman)
5. Jayshawn Ross (Freshman)
6. Noah Carter (Freshman)
Quandarrius Robinson enters his fifth year in the program with high expectations. This position has produced some of the best players on the team over the last few seasons, and Robinson is now poised to be the Tide’s game-changing pass rusher.
After spending most of his career as a special teams player, Q-Rob saw extensive defensive snaps last season, recording career-highs of 24 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks while appearing primarily on obvious passing downs. He will have to prove he can be a more complete player to handle a full-time role.
If Robinson falters, fellow veteran Keanu Koht will be on his heels. Koht hasn’t seen much action in his three seasons on campus, but he is a former 4-star recruit who reportedly had a good spring.
Behind the two vets, a pair of redshirt freshmen will be lurking. Qua Russaw and Yhonzae Pierre are former 5-star prospects who may have higher ceilings than their older counterparts, and will try to push their way into the rotation. By all accounts, Russaw has been particularly impressive in practice settings.
Jayshawn Ross and Noah Carter are both high-upside freshmen who could be redshirt candidates this year. This is a deep position group and, in Wommack’s base defense, Alabama is expected to put just one Wolf on the field at a time.
Mike Linebacker
1. Deontae Lawson (Redshirt Junior)
2. Jeremiah Alexander (Redshirt Sophomore)
3. Sterling Dixon (Freshman)
4. QB Reese (Freshman)
Bama is in good hands with Deontae Lawson calling the shots. The Tide’s leading returning tackler made 67 stops last season, including 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks, despite playing in just 11 games. If he can stay healthy for the duration of the season, he should be one of college football’s best.
Jeremiah Alexander should be ready to contribute as he enters year three. He brings physicality and versatility to the position, and will likely play an important role as Bama’s third inside linebacker. True freshmen Sterling Dixon and QB Reese should redshirt if everything goes according to plan.
Sting Linebacker
1. Jihaad Campbell (Junior)
2. Justin Jefferson (Senior)
3. Justin Okoronkwo (Freshman)
4. Cayden Jones (Freshman)
Campbell will be Lawson’s running mate once again after recording 66 tackles and 4.0 tackles for loss in 2023. These two make up a punishing linebacker tandem that can play sideline to sideline as well as between the tackles. Campbell also showed a propensity for generating turnovers last season, intercepting a pass and recovering two fumbles, one of which he returned for a decisive touchdown against Tennessee.
Jefferson was one of the top JUCO products in the country in the 2023 cycle. He was a special teams ace and a quality depth piece last season, recording four tackles and a forced fumble. Justin Okoronkwo and Cayden Jones both looked good on A-Day and are promising pieces for the future.