Alabama fans have been concerned with the lack of toughness and physicality from the inside linebacker position since losing players such as Shaun Dion Hamilton, Rashaan Evans, Mack Wilson, Reuben Foster, and Reggie Ragland to the NFL.
The Crimson Tide did not have the nastiness at the position for the last two years, but it looks to have returned.
RELATED: Nick Saban discusses Alabama’s OLB room after first scrimmage
Alabama’s ILB room is deep, fierce, and physical again under Nick Saban. Deontae Lawson is out this spring because he’s recovering from surgery, but several names stepped up in Friday’s scrimmage.
Saban highlighted Trezmen Marshall (Georgia transfer), Jihaad Campbell, and Shawn Murphy as players that have performed well in the spring. Marshall brings a dominant mentality from the Bulldogs as a two-time College Football Playoff National Champion. Campbell and Murphy, two 5-stars in the 2022 signing class, gained confidence during Allstate Sugar Bowl prep for Kansas State to finish last season. Saban is enjoying the competition he is seeing at inside linebacker and spoke on it Friday.
“It is great,” he said. “Trez Marshall is doing a good job. He adds maturity there. The other guys are coming along, they are doing better and competing well. We are moving them around. Shawn Murphy has done a pretty good job, Jihaad Campbell has done a pretty good job, and those guys are rotating in and out. Lawson is the one guy that has the experience and would be a good player to add leadership at that position, but this is a good thing that those guys are getting all the reps.”
According to sources, Touchdown Alabama Magazine learned Campbell and Blackshire made plays in the scrimmage.
As for Marshall, a source said he’s a ‘war daddy.’
Source on Marshall: “His leadership and attention to detail are there in a major way. He’s a vet. He understands the scheme coming from Kirby’s defense. If Trez gets a chance to hit you, you are going to feel it.”
Another source said Murphy and Justin Jefferson (JUCO transfer) will be good ‘situational’ linebackers. Both guys have explosive speed and lateral quickness to create pressure. Marshall and Blackshire are in a marquee competition, but sources said it will be hard to keep Campbell off the field. Alabama could play four to five inside linebackers in the rotation because of the talent it has.
The physicality is back at the position and that is the most important thing.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
