The annual Reese’s Senior Bowl took place in Mobile, Alabama, Saturday afternoon, and many prospects from around the country improved their stocks for April’s draft. During the week of practice, former Alabama football players spoke to the media and were asked for their opinions on who they felt were the next up-and-comers. Two of the most popular choices were safety, Deionte Thompson, and linebacker, Dylan Moses.
Thompson saw a large chunk of playing time this year, but an injury to Hootie Jones propelled him into a starting role. In his limiting playing time he managed 25 total tackles, an interception and a pair of deflections. During his time as the Tide’s starter, he very much looked the part with his demeanor and physicality. With the losses of Ronnie Harrison and Minkah Fitzpatrick, two of the most physical safeties to ever play for Alabama under Saban, the defense will need someone to step up desperately.
If Thompson can be the guy for the secondary, perhaps the rest of the pieces can fall into places around him. One of those pieces could be Dylan Moses at inside linebacker.
Like Thompson, Moses was forced into a starting role after the linebacker corps’ depletion. Though he, too, was injured during bowl prep, he showed a lot of upside during his two starts. He compiled 21 tackles, 4.0 tackles for a loss, and a pick in his first two career starts. With Rashaan Evans and Shaun-Dion Hamilton moving on to the NFL, a spot inside has opened up beside Mack Wilson. Moses’ instincts, though raw, appeared to be something fairly special.
Alabama lost a lot of talent on the defensive line to last year’s draft, and this year they’ll lost a lot of talent behind it. While these would fill only two of the empty spots, Moses and Thompson appear to be a pair of potential break-out stars. And coming from former teammates who played with and against them every day, fans should get excited.
