SEC Teams to Watch in 2025- Alabama

Mark McLeod, Blitz Sports Radio/SEC Blitz

*This is the 3rd part in a series featuring SEC schools who could emerge as factors in the conference championship race and potential College Football Playoff teams. I began with a Florida preview followed by a two-part piece on Alabama. Who is next?  Find out on July 5th.

Who will have the top secondary in the nation? 

It may very well be the Alabama Crimson Tide. 

They have it all. Talent, depth, enough experience, and outstanding recruiting, which will keep ‘Bama among the nation’s best. It is the strength of this football team. What about the transfer portal, you say? Well, head coach Kalen DeBoer kept the Crimson Tide roster intact without suffering a single departure in the spring. 

Yes, All-American safety Malachi Moore has moved on to the National Football League and Devonta Smith, who manned the husky position (nickelback) departed for Notre Dame at the end of the ’24 season. The duo combined for 23 starts in ’24. 

Furthermore, Alabama was without five probable defensive starters this spring including defensive backs Keon Sabb (6’1, 205) and Domani Jackson (6’1, 195). The group also includes junior James Smith (6’3, 295), their best defensive lineman, and two redshirt senior linebackers- Deontae Lawson (6’2, 230) and Justin Jefferson (6’1, 225). 

Those five (probable) starters have combined for 52 starts.

Jackson started all 13 games and will return for his senior year playing opposite cornerback Zabien Brown (6’0, 190), who earned Freshman All-SEC honors after starting 13 games and finishing with three interceptions. Sabb and Bray Hubbard (6’2, 208) are juniors who are expected to be among the top safety tandems in the country. 

Sabb started seven games before breaking his foot in the Tennessee game and missing the spring after surgery. Hubbard was one of the surprise players in the Southeastern Conference in 2024. Pro Football Focus had Hubbard as one of the highest graded safeties (89.2) in the nation. 

Redshirt senior husky back DaShawn Jones (6’0, 188) was the top reserve at the position last season and got the start in the ReliaQuest Bowl. 

Those injuries in the spring allowed a few players top get additional reps that they simply wouldn’t have gotten with Sabb and Jackson healthy. 

Who should see time as top reserves at cornerback and at safety? 

Keep an eye on freshman Dijon Lee (6’4, 197) California, who has earned the nickname, “The Freak”. Lee turned heads with outstanding play during spring practice, even prompting some to say that he was one of best players on the entire Alabama defense. Will he challenge for a starting spot early in the season? 

Utah transfer Cam Calhoun (6’0, 180) saw action in 11 games for the Utes last season. DeBoer and Wommack are familiar with the play of the redshirt sophomore, who should be a top reserve.  

Sophomore Zay Mincey (6’3, 208), redshirt sophomore Kam Howard (5’11, 195) should be the top reserves at safety with impressive freshman Ivan Taylor (6’0, 195). Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. (5’11, 200) was a special teams starter, who should be ready to help out in a reserve role.  

Linebackers

The linebacker play should be very good with redshirt seniors Deontae Lawson (6’2, 230), Justin Jefferson (6’1, 225), and Colorado transfer Nikhai Hill-Green (6’2, 235) at the Mike and Stinger positions. Lawson is the captain and a two-year starter for the Crimson Tide, who finished second to first-round draft pick Jihaad Campbell with 76 tackles. Wommack needs Lawson to stay healthy. I don’t believe that Lawson receives the accolades that he deserves. He is really impressive.  

Jefferson saw extensive time as a reserve behind Lawson and Jefferson finishing fourth on the squad with 60 tackles. However, he suffered a season-ending injury in the Oklahoma game and was limited in spring drills. In May, he learned that he had been cleared by the medical staff to begin summer camp in June. 

Hill-Green (6’2, 235) has played a lot of football in his previous stops at Michigan, Charlotte, and Colorado. His experience is critical for ‘Bama given the schedule and injury to Jefferson last season. You simply have to have some depth here and they look to have a three-man rotation with Chuck Morrell working to get younger players coached up. It’s much easier when they have been able to watch how Lawson and Jefferson prepare.  

Redshirt sophomore Qua Russaw (6’2, 241) figures to the starter at Wolf. Russaw had six starts, despite missing several games with a leg injury. He is a very talented player. 

They have an emabarrassment of riches here with graduate Jah-Marien Latham (6’3, 265) started 11 games at Bandit for the Crimson Tide. It looks as though he will play behind Russaw at the Wolf this season though. Latham is underrated. I suspect they will have to find a way to get him on the field. He had a big day vs South Carolina with seven tackles, which included a sack. 

Defensive Line 

Run defense? 

It was flat ugly at times in 2024. Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Oklahoma crushed Alabama. In losses to the Commodores, Vols, and Sooners, the Crimson Tide run defense was gashed for a combined 637 yards and six touchdowns, which accounted for 35.5% of the rush yardage the Tide gave up all season. Alabama finished 48th nationally with opponents averaging 137.8 yards per game. 

-Vanderbilt surrendering 166 yards and two TD’s

-Tennessee 214 and two TD’s

-Oklahoma 257 and two TD’s. 

The turnovers by quarterback Jalen Milroe in the Tennessee and Oklahoma games played right into the Vols and Sooners hands and didn’t help the defense. 

Still, Alabama’s rush defense should have been one of the Southeastern Conference’s top four units. ‘Bama finished among the bottom half of the conference rankings in rush defense. Furthermore, where were the Alabama defensive linemen on the 2024 All-SEC Team? 

The Crimson & White are typically well-represented on those post-season squads. 

Alabama defense finished the season ranked among the top 10 nationally in turnovers gained (5th), scoring defense (10th), and pass efficiency defense (10th). Can you imagine if they were better against the run?

Every team battles injuries and Alabama had a full page worth. We see that 3-4 games of poor run defense knocked out what could have been a top-tier SEC defense. 

Scoring Defense 10th 17.38 ppg

Total Defense 21st 316.1 ypg

Rush Defense 48th 137.8

Pass Efficiency Defense 10th 112.38

3rd down 16th .328

Turnover Gained 5th 28

The Alabama defense finished the season ranked among the top 10 nationally in turnovers gained (5th), scoring defense (10th), and pass efficiency defense (10th). Can you imagine if they were better against the run? 

The run defense simply did not meet the standard of Alabama football. 

Defensive line coach Freddie Roach has some work to do. Roach has deserved some of the criticism aimed at him for a lull in recent player development. One of the concerns going into the ’25 season is depth. I mentioned earlier that injuries hurt the Alabama defensive front. Some key reserves were just not ready. They should be ready this season because they received plenty of reps with just five defensive starters healthy throughout spring practice. Can Roach close with more top recruits heading to Tuscaloosa? 

LT Overton (6’5, 280) was a key member of the rotation and he finished strong for the Crimson Tide last season in starts against Auburn and Michigan. The senior had nine quarterback hurries on the season in the rotation after transferring from Texas A&M. Mock draft analysts thought that he could have been a 3rd round pick in the recent NFL Draft. He played it smart to return to Tuscaloosa and improve his stock. 

Junior defensive tackle James Smith (6’3, 295) has elevated his game and could have a big year playing alongside nose tackle Tim Keenan III (6’2, 325). Keep an eye on the “Mongomery Boys”. Smith’s performance against Michigan in the bowl game was an eye opener.  

Can the reserves develop and step up? I’m not saying they are devoid of talent. Young and inexperienced. We need to see it this season. 

Redshirt freshmen Jeremiah Beaman (6’4, 312) and Isaia Fago (6’2, 290) join redshirt sophomore Edric Hill (6’3, 282) as the top reserves to Smith and Keenan. Hill was the only one of the three who saw time in more than three games.  

Redshirt sophomore Yhonzae Pierre (6’3, 248) is expected to take another step forward in his development. It may be difficult to find additional playing time working behind Russau and Latham.

Redshirt freshman Keon Keely (6’5, 285) enjoyed a strong spring. Will he be ready to play for the Crimson Tide. 

Analysis: This Alabama defense will be improved for three reasons. The Crimson Tide secondary will be fantastic. Secondly, I really like the linebackers and think they could have a big year.  Finally, year two should be better under Kane Wommack. Let me add one potential plus to the equation- the Alabama offense will do a better job of taking care of the football and extending drives with new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb running the show with first-time starter Ty Simpson.

My concern is that things could go awry if injuries pile up on the Crimson Tide defensive front. We haven't seen much of the reserves and I question their development to this point. 

Furthermore, the schedule is difficult. Georgia and South Carolina on the road will be tough. Oklahoma will be improved. Missouri could prove to be a tough out too. Vanderbilt? Well, if the Crimson Tide has to answer for that loss and Saban Field at Bryant-Denny will be on fire, despite it being the 'Dores.   

I’m not ready to say that the Crimson Tide defense is back, but they could take a giant step forward.

Mark McLeod has been covering University of Florida and Southeastern Conference sports for 28 years. Longtime radio host at ESPN/Fox affiliates. @McLeodLive Email: Mark@BlitzSportsRadio.com