Alabama football‘s middle linebacker unit enters this season as one of the team’s most solid position groups, thanks to the depth and experience carried over from the 2023 roster.
The Crimson Tide bring back Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell, along with Jeremiah Alexander and Justin Jefferson, from last season. It adds four true freshmen to its roster and loses four members from 2023: Kendrick Blackshire (transfer to Texas), Ian Jackson (transfer to UTSA), Shawn Murphy (transfer to Florida State) and Trezmen Marshall (declared for NFL Draft).
Also new for Crimson Tide players is new defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Kane Wommack, who will install his “Swarm” 4-2-5 defensive scheme. Under coach Nick Saban, coach Robert Bala was in charge of inside linebackers while Coleman Hutzler coached the outside linebackers.
Here is how Alabama’s linebacker room looks heading into fall camp. Every scholarship player and any notable walk-on is mentioned:
The options for Alabama football at linebackers
Projected starters: Jihaad Campbell, jr.; Deontae Lawson, r-jr.
Reserves: Jeremiah Alexander, r-so.; Justin Jefferson, sr.; Sterling Dixon, fr.; Cayden Jones, fr.; Justin Okoronkwo, fr.; Quinton Reese, fr.
Lawson, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound redshirt junior, started in 11 games for the Crimson Tide, having to miss three contests due to injury. Lawson finished the season with 67 tackles, 5.5 of those for loss, to go with three sacks, four quarterback hurries and four pass breakups. He also was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award in 2023, an award presented annually to the top linebacker in the nation.
Campbell has battled injuries during his time at the Capstone but should enter the season at full health. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound junior made eight starts for Alabama last season and saw time in 13 games. He recorded 66 tackles, four for loss, half a sack, three quarterback pressures, three pass breakups and an interception to go with two fumble recoveries.
Alexander saw time at both inside and outside linebacker in 2023 along with contributing on special teams. He finished the season totaling three tackles across 14 games. Jefferson, the other returning member of Alabama’s linebacker unit, totaled four tackles and a forced fumble in 14 games last season, where he primarily contributed on special teams.
Reese, Jones and Okoronkwo come to Tuscaloosa as three-star prospects per the 247Sports Composite, with Dixon being listed as a four-star.
The upside
Alabama has a wealth of experience returning between Lawson and Campbell.
The two ranked second and third respectively among the team in 2023 for total tackles, with Lawson tallying 67 and Campbell 66.
Lawson took full control of Alabama’s middle linebacker post in 2023 despite battling injuries and expect him to do even more so this season. Lawson will also most likely be the one wearing the new helmet communication system, a rule that was adopted this offseason by the NCAA, essentially making him the quarterback of the Crimson Tide’s defense.
As both Lawson and Campbell have battled injuries during their time at the Capstone, them remaining healthy is key for Alabama’s linebacker unit this season. The Crimson Tide does bring in a talented group of youngsters, we will just have to see how they fit into the rotation.
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One question or concern
As this is a new defensive scheme for Alabama, and one the players are not used to, it will be interesting to see how Alabama’s players fit into Wommack’s defensive scheme.
Players, though, should have plenty of time to acclimate to the change between both spring practice and fall camp before Alabama’s season-opening contest against Western Kentucky on Aug. 31.
A-Day did not reveal too much about what to expect but Alabama’s linebacker unit this season, as Campbell was sidelined with injury and Lawson did not show much. However, it did present an opportunity for some of Alabama’s youngsters to show what they got, primarily Okoronkwo, an international student from Germany, who tallied 11 tackles during the spring game.
Breakout candidate
Lawson will likely be the glue to hold Alabama’s linebacker unit together this season.
The redshirt junior from Mobile, Alabama, has expanded his role in each of his seasons with the Crimson Tide, amassing 15 starts while playing 26 games since he arrived at the Capstone in 2021. Expect Lawson to make a further impact on the Crimson Tide’s defense this season, possibly setting himself in a good position come the 2025 NFL Draft, if he chooses to go that route.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: What to know about Alabama football’s linebackers before fall camp
