We are 32 days from Alabama football kicking off its season versus Middle Tennessee State.
Two elite players in the Nick Saban era on defense for the Crimson Tide wore No. 32: C.J. Mosley and Rashaan Evans.
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Mosley was a Dick Butkus Award winner and an All-American. He played on back-to-back BCS National Championships teams in 2011 and 2012. Evans came to the Tide in 2014 as a five-star from Auburn (Ala.) High School. He was a two-time College Football Playoff National Champion in 2015 and 2017. Both were in-state products as linebackers, and a new one represents No. 32 for the upcoming season. Deontae Lawson, a Mobile (Ala.) native, wants to be latest in-state talent to lead Alabama’s defense to a national championship as a middle linebacker. The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder came in the 2021 signing class as a four-star.
Only 32 days remain until Alabama football returns 👀 pic.twitter.com/9zdNX8gtTl
— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) August 1, 2023
He was productive in 2022, totaling 51 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and four pass breakups. Lawson possesses the ability to play middle or weakside linebacker. It will be interesting to see where Kevin Steele and Robert Bala (inside linebackers coach) have him lined up. Lawson has the knowledge of the system and a playmaking skill set to help the Tide become elite again.
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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.
