Storylines We’re Tracking for Alabama’s Defense During Spring Practice

We are less than a week away from the Alabama Crimson Tide starting spring practice as head coach Kalen DeBoer prepares to lead the Tide in his third season in Tuscaloosa after compiling a 20-8 record over his first two seasons in Tuscaloosa, with an SEC championship appearance and a College Football Playoff victory coming in his second season at Alabama.

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The expectations are high for Alabama, as they always are, but especially as the Tide enters year three under Kalen DeBoer. With a small taste of the success last season that the Crimson Tide saw under former head coach Nick Saban, Alabama won 11 games last year after averaging a little more than 12 per season under Saban, with 15 seasons of 11 wins or more under the legendary head coach.

On Monday, we published three spring practice storylines for the Tide's offense, including the highly anticipated quarterback battle between Austin Mack and Keelon Russell. While the Crimson Tide's defense has performed well over the last two seasons under defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, Alabama's standard is to field a top-10 defensive unit every season. The Tide is returning four starters in the secondary, with veteran safeties Bray Hubbard and Keon Sabb back for their second season as Alabama's starting safety duo, and the Tide's lockdown, two-year starter at cornerback, Zabien Brown, back for what is currently expected to be his final season in Tuscaloosa before he declares for the NFL.

The Linebacker Room: Who Starts Alongside Yhonzae Pierre?

Alabama linebacker Yhonzae Pierre finished last season as the Tide's leader in sacks with eight, and announced his return to the Crimson Tide in January. His development as a down-to-down pass rusher for the Tide will be crucial for a defensive front seven that will feature new faces at every other position, including linebacker. Alabama rotated at inside linebacker under Wommack's defensive scheme over the last two seasons, with Deontae Lawson, Justin Jefferson, and Nikhai Hill-Green heading that rotation last season. All three are out of eligibility and off to the NFL, with the Crimson Tide now set to rebuild its inside linebacker room. The most likely candidate is redshirt sophomore QB Reese, who appeared in all 15 games on special teams and defense last season. Reese ended his redshirt freshman year with six total tackles, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. In terms of seniority, alongside him could be junior linebacker Cayden Jones, who only appeared in 10 contests during 2025 after dealing with a lower-body injury. He still totaled eight tackles, one fumble recovery, and a quarterback hurry. In 2024, he played in 11 games as a freshman, with six total tackles and one pass breakup. Alabama also brought in senior linebacker Caleb Woodson from Virginia Tech, who totaled 57 tackles and one pass breakup for the Hokies last season. He's totaled 151 tackles, three pass breakups, two sacks, and an interception in three seasons in Blacksburg. Will the Tide continue its two-year trend of rotating at inside linebacker? If so, these three feel like early candidates to take the charge. Sophomore linebacker Luke Metz appeared in all 15 games for the Tide on defense and special teams during his freshman season in 2025, making seven total tackles. The Tide also returned Duke Johnson II and Abduall Sanders Jr., with Johnson appearing in nine games with three tackles, and Sanders appearing in seven games with one tackle before an injury against South Carolina sidelined him until the College Football Playoffs. In the 2026 recruiting class, the Tide signed three-star, Tuscaloosa native linebacker Zay Hall and five-star Xavier Griffin, who is classified as an edge, but is reportedly capable of playing both outside linebacker and inside linebacker.

Can Freshmen Defensive Backs Crack the Rotation?

The Crimson Tide's secondary was arguably its best unit in 2025, with second-year starter Zabien Brown hauling in two interceptions on the season, both being pick-sixes. Brown was tied with freshman cornerback Dijon Lee Jr. in interceptions, with one of Lee's being a game-sealing pick in a 27-24 victory over Missouri. Both were tied for the second-most pass breakups on the team with five, only behind junior safety Bray Hubbard, who had eight and a team-high four interceptions. Hubbard also led the team with three forced fumbles. Hubbard and redshirt junior Keon Sabb started every game for Alabama in 2025 at the safety spots.

All four return for the 2026 season, with Brown, Hubbard, and Sabb entering their third season as a starting trio in Tuscaloosa. Alabama is also returning junior defensive back Red Morgan, who has played in all 27 games of his Alabama career so far, with five starts during the 2025 season in the back end of Kane Wommack's defense. He totaled 26 tackles, three tackles for loss, and added three quarterback hurries, one pass breakup, and one forced fumble in 2025, taking over as the starter against the Oklahoma Sooners on homecoming. Wommack has shown he isn't afraid to rotate in the secondary, with Lee rotating with senior cornerback Domani Jackson, Morgan rotating with senior defensive back DaShawn Jones, sophomore safety Zavier Mincey playing in all 15 games on special teams and defense, and even seeing true freshman Ivan Taylor in all 15 games. While the 2026 starting secondary will be nearly identical to the 2025 unit, the rotations behind the top guys will look vastly different. Alabama also signed former Mercer DB Carmelo O'Neal via the transfer portal and five players via the 2026 recruiting class:

Juco CB Nick Sherman
Three-Star S Rihyael Kelley
Four-Star CB Zyan Gibson
Four-Star S Jireh Edwards
Five-Star CB Jorden Edmonds

We've seen freshman defensive backs play significant reps over the last two seasons, with Zabien Brown starting all season, Zavier Mincey appearing in 13 games with one start, and Red Morgan appearing in 12 games as true freshmen in 2024, Dijon Lee Jr. starting five, Chuck McDonald appearing in six, and Ivan Taylor appearing in 15 as true freshmen in 2025. With the talent of Alabama's 2026 recruiting class, can any of the freshmen crack the rotation and make an early name for themself as we've seen over the last two seasons?

Can the Defensive Line Build on 2025?

After much chagrin around the performance of Alabama's defensive line through much of the 2020s, the Crimson Tide's defensive front was disruptive in 2025, led by Wolf linebacker Yhonzae Pierre, who finished with 14.5 tackles for loss on the season, the most since Dallas Turner in 2023. Alabama's defensive line also saw 11 other players log tackles for loss:

James Smith: 6.5
LT Overton: 6.0
Kelby Collins: 3.0
Tim Keenan III: 3.0
Keon Keeley: 3.0
Edric Hill: 3.0
London Simmons: 1.5
Jordan Renaud: 1.5
Steve Bolo Mboumoua: 1.0
Fatutoa Henry: 0.5
Isaia Faga: 0.5

In total, Alabama had 86 tackles for loss in 2025, the most since the 2022 season when Will Anderson Jr. had 17, and Brian Branch had 14. The success of the defensive front contributed to Alabama's top-three defensive ranking in the SEC, allowing 296.8 yards and 19.2 points per game. Alabama defensive linemen accounted for 29.5 tackles for loss last season. The problem? Alabama only returns 6.5 tackles for loss in that room with Edric Hill (R-Jr), London Simmons (So), Steve Bolo Mboumoua (likely R-So), Fatutoa Henry (R-Sr), and Isaia Faga (R-So). Alabama also returns upcoming redshirt sophomore Jeremiah Beaman, who started in place of Tim Keenan III against Florida State before tearing his ACL during practice ahead of Alabama's week two win over ULM.

The young players on the roster flashed last season, with true freshman London Simmons earning two starts early and appearing in all 15 games for the Tide. Hill appeared in all 15 games with three starts, with Faga appearing in 15, Henry appearing in five, and Mboumoua appearing in three games. Those five players taking developmental steps will be crucial to the Tide's defensive success in 2026, given the youth at the second level at linebacker. Thankfully, those five players aren't the only ones Alabama will rely on in 2026.

The Tide added 11 new faces to Freddie Roach's defensive line room via the high school ranks and the transfer portal:

Devan Thompkins: USC Transfer
Kedrick Bingley-Jones: Mississippi State Transfer
Caleb Smith: Washington Transfer
Terrance Green: Oregon Transfer
Desmond Umeozulu: South Carolina Transfer
Malique Franklin: Three-Star Edge
Kamhariyan Johnson: Three-Star Edge
Corey Howard: Three-Star DL
Nolan Wilson: Four-Star DL
Jamarion Matthews: Four-Star DL
Xavier Griffin: Five-Star Edge

The Transfers

Devan Thompkins (6'5, 285 lbs)

In four seasons with the USC Trojans, Thompkins totaled 56 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, five passes swatted, and one forced fumble. He's expected to compete at the Tide's Bandit defensive end spot, which saw the departure of LT Overton (NFL draft), Keon Keeley (transfer), and Jordan Renaud (transfer). Thompkins had a breakout year in 2025 with 31 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks.

Kedrick Bingley-Jones (6'4, 320 lbs)

Bingley-Jones was recently granted a seventh year of eligibility by the NCAA after spending three seasons with the North Carolina Tar Heels and two with Mississippi State. With the Bulldogs, he started all 17 games he was healthy for, and appeared in 43 total games over his six seasons so far. He totaled 40 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and one pass swatted. With his 300-pound frame, he is expected to compete at defensive tackle for Alabama alongside fellow transfer Terrance Green (Oregon), Simmons, Hill, Beaman, and Faga. Bingley-Jones's best season came in 2025 with Mississippi State, where he totaled 25 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss.

Caleb Smith (6'5, 270 lbs)

Smith enrolled at Washington as an early enrollee for the 2025 season, but did not see action in his first season in Seattle. During his senior season of high school, he was credited with 44 tackles and eight tackles for loss. Originally a Birmingham, Alabama, native, Smith is expected to compete long-term in Tuscaloosa for playing time over the next few seasons, and has the frame to play both bandit and wolf.

Terrance Green (6'5, 330 lbs)

Green spent his first three seasons of college football with the Oregon Ducks, where he redshirted during the 2023 season. The current redshirt junior totaled 22 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, and two passes swatted. He appeared in all 15 games with 15 tackles, one tackle for loss, and one pass swatted. His size should lead to him competing for a starting spot on the interior of the defensive line for the Crimson Tide.

Desmond Umeozulu (6'6, 255 lbs)

Umeozulu appeared in 36 total games over the last three seasons for South Carolina, including his first career start during his junior-year campaign in 2025. Umeozulu totaled 30 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks over three seasons, with a breakout year in 2025, recording 19 tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack. He is expected to compete at the Tide's bandit position for the 2026 season.

The Recruits

Malique Franklin, Daphne, Alabama (6'5, 250 lbs)*

Franklin was a three-star edge prospect in the 2026 class, being ranked as the No. 377 overall prospect, the No. 39 edge, and the No. 15 player in Alabama, according to the 247 Sports composite rankings. As a senior in 2025, Franklin finished his 12-game senior season with 98 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, and one forced fumble.

Kamhariyan Johnson, Muscle Shoals, Alabama (6'3, 262 lbs)

Johnson was a three-star edge prospect in the 2026 class, being ranked as the No. 277 overall prospect, the No. 28 edge, and the No. 12 player in Alabama, according to the 247 Sports composite rankings. As a senior, Johnson totaled 44 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, four passes broken up, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.

Corey Howard, Valdosta, Georgia (6'6, 245 lbs)

Howard was a three-star edge prospect in the 2026 class, ranked as the No. 605 overall prospect, the No. 63 edge, and the No. 66 player in Georgia, according to the 247 Sports composite rankings.

Nolan Wilson, Picayune, Mississippi (6'4, 250 lbs)*

Wilson was a four-star defensive line prospect in the 2026 class, ranked as the No. 69 overall prospect, the No. 9 defensive lineman, and the No. 3 player in Mississippi, according to the 247 Sports composite rankings. As a senior, Wilson totaled 81 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 17 quarterback hurries, 11 sacks, and one forced fumble.

Jamarion Matthews, Gainesville, Georgia (6'2, 255 lbs)

Matthews was a four-star prospect in the 2026 class, ranked as the No. 61 overall player, the No. 6 defensive lineman, and the No. 7 player in Georgia, according to the 247 Sports composite rankings. As a senior, he totaled 58 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, and nine quarterback hurries.

Xavier Griffin, Gainesville, Georgia (6'3, 218 lbs)

Matthews's teammate at Gainesville High School in the Peach State, Xavier Griffin, was a five-star edge prospect in the 2026 class, ranked as the No. 14 overall prospect, the No. 1 edge, and the No. 1 player in Georgia, according to the 247 Sports composite rankings. During his senior season, he totaled 96 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 18 quarterback hurries, four sacks, two pass breakups, one interception, and one fumble recovery. Griffin has been likened to former Alabama linebacker and current Philadelphia Eagles rookie Jihaad Campbell, who played both outside and inside linebacker with the Tide. Griffin has shown the versatility to play both in high school, and once he gets familiar with the system, should transition seamlessly between the two roles defensively.

*Franklin and Wilson will not arrive on campus until the summer.

Which of the Crimson Tide's newcomers do you think will make an impact early?

Alabama is scheduled to start spring practice on March 9.

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_.