Alabama Adds Mass to Defensive Line: "Mass Kicks Ass"

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Over the last two seasons, Alabama has been among the smallest teams in the SEC, ranking 14th in height and 15th in weight, according to Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack on Friday. Now, according to Wommack, Alabama is ranked in the top five in the SEC.

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"We did a study. We looked at height, length, like arm length, and then just overall weight. And so in each of those categories, I think the last two years, I think we were like 14th in height. We were like 15th in weight, but cumulatively, over the last two years, we were like 14th, which is not the standard here," Wommack told the media on Friday. "We had to improve and work to improve that, and it's taken us a couple of years to do it, but we're in a much better place now."

Getting bigger on the defensive line has been a key point for Alabama this offseason after the Crimson Tide's run defense ranked 8th in the SEC, allowing 126.9 yards per game. At times, Alabama got pushed around last season, culminating in Indiana rushing for 215 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 35-point victory over the Tide.

Adding height, and by proxy, arm length, should help Alabama clog rushing lanes and stop the run without adding extra defenders into the box.

"Well, usually height goes into length, right? In general, right, so you don't have a lot of long guys with T Rex arms out there, right? So we're probably guessing a little bit with some of that from overall length, but big bodies matter, right? You know, mass kicks ass. And so when you have big frames that have length and being able to strike people, but also when they're getting a double team, right, just sheer mass matters. And the truth is, we got moved around some for the last two years here, and so that was an area where we've done some good things defensively here. At times, I think we've been really good. But to be a dominant defense, you have to have guys up front that can make a difference. And I think we get, we're moving in the right direction."

Check out Kane Wommack's full press conference here:

Alabama will return to the practice field on Monday, August 10. The Tide will open the season on 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_.