Wommack "Excited" About Linebacker Aggressiveness

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Second-year linebacker Luke Metz is in the thick of a linebacker competition with QB Reese and Cayden Jones for a starting spot opposite Virginia Tech transfer Caleb Woodson after The Crimson Tide sent Nikhai Hill-Green, Justin Jefferson, and Deontae Lawson to the NFL draft.

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"Luke has always been a guy that when you watch his tape, the energy he plays with, the passion he plays with, and the physicality," defensive coordinator Kane Wommack told reporters on Tuesday, "and I thought at the beginning of spring ball, he got a little bit where he was more concerned about the scheme, right, and making a mistake. And he was playing a little bit hesitant at the beginning of spring. And so, I talked to him like, ‘Hey, man. Go back to who you are and what you do. You're a guy that can go run and hit and be decisive.’"

"And he kind of took that to heart. He took strides as we moved into spring ball, and then you saw that through the summertime. And right now, he's playing at a very high level. So excited about him."

Metz, a sophomore from Mill Creek High School in Georgia, appeared in all 15 games for Alabama last season, finishing the season with 7 tackles on special teams and defense.

Metz isn't the only linebacker playing with a heightened sense of aggressiveness, with Wommack "excited" about the room playing at a higher level.

"Excited about a number of those linebackers right now that are really playing aggressive. One of the things that I think you see from our defensive line playing more consistent right now is that because they're in their gap and they're doing their job, the linebackers are now playing more aggressive. The safeties are coming down and fitting more aggressively because they have confidence in guys holding their gap responsibility. So, all those things, right, go hand in hand when it starts up front.”

Alabama will return to the practice field on Wednesday, August 12. The Crimson Tide's first scrimmage will be this Thursday, August 13. The first game of the season is scheduled for Saturday, September 5 against East Carolina.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.