Alabama Football seeking to bolster linebacker room
Alabama Football has made an effort to improve its already-stacked linebacker room, eyeing multiple linebackers with ties to the new coaching staff in 2024.
Bama lost inside linebacker Trezmen Marshall to the NFL Draft, followed by depth pieces Kendrick Blackshire, Shawn Murphy, and Ian Jackson to the transfer portal. It also lost edge rushers Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell to the NFL Draft.
There is a lot of talent still in the cupboard, but Bama is actively seeking to restock its linebacker rooms.
Former Washington commit and 2024 edge Noah Carter was released from his National Letter of Intent after the UW coaching staff disbanded, and now he will follow Coach Kalen DeBoer to Tuscaloosa. He visited Alabama Football over the weekend, and committed to the Tide on Thursday.
Carter, an Arizona product, is a top-100 player in the country off the edge. He becomes the second commit in an edge class that also includes Missouri product and 4-star recruit Jayshawn Ross.
South Alabama linebacker Khalil Jacobs entered the transfer portal and received an offer from Alabama Football, but has since withdrawn from the portal and decided to remain in Mobile. Jacobs had ties to the program via newly-hired defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, who was previously the head coach of the USA Jaguars.
While Bama did not land Jacobs, this may be an indication that the staff will continue to track linebackers in the portal throughout the spring.
In its 2024 recruiting class, Alabama Football adds three early enrollees in 4-star Sterling Dixon and 3-stars Justin Okoronkwo and Cayden Jones. All three are versatile linebackers that could play inside or out, but would probably have to add significant mass to play edge in Wommack’s 4-2-5 scheme.
Bama will also add in-state 3-star verbal commit QB Reese, an undersized inside ‘backer who always seems to find the ball.
In its starting lineup, Alabama Football will trot out two of the nation’s best in Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell. Both will be studs for Bama in 2024, and there is a decent chance both will turn pro after next season.
Prior to his retirement, Coach Saban was clearly making an effort to restock the room with young talent, and the new coaching staff has continued to pursue that goal.
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