Nick Saban may have a physical, dominant linebacker in the middle of Alabama’s defense for the first time since the Shaun Dion Hamilton-Rashaan Evans duo in 2017.
Four of the Crimson Tide’s six national championships under Saban have come with an in-state product at middle linebacker.
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Rolando McClain started it in 2009 as a native of Decatur, Ala. C.J. Mosley captained the defense to a national championship in 2012, hailing from Theodore, Ala. Reggie Ragland anchored the 2015 national championship defense from Madison, Ala., while the tandem of Hamilton (Montgomery, Ala.) and Evans (Auburn, Ala.) got it done in 2017. Deontae Lawson, a native of Mobile, Ala., has an opportunity to continue the trend. Coach Saban enjoyed Lawson’s production at weak-side “Will” linebacker in 2022.
The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder totaled 51 tackles, 2.5 stops for loss, and four pass breakups in 11 games.
He showcased instinctive play, lateral quickness, and the ability to read and attack the ball. Lawson missed spring practice because of knee surgery, but he has looked strong early in preseason camp. Kevin Steele, Alabama’s defensive coordinator, likes what he sees in Lawson. He praised the former four-star’s work ethic in Sunday’s media day at the Mal Moore Athletic Facility.
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“Deontae is very smart, works very hard, but he also has time on task,” Steele said. “That always helps in college football. There is a difference between an 18-year-old and a 21-year-old, in particular, if you have done the task over and over again. He has a lot of snaps under his belt. He knows the expectations, knows the process, and he is very relentless toward the work of improving himself and the defense.”
Tyler Booker and Malachi Moore continued highlighting Lawson in Monday’s player interviews.
Booker, a sophomore offensive lineman, said Lawson ‘has taken charge of the defense.’
“I am very proud of him,” Booker said about Lawson.
“A lot of weight was placed on Will Anderson to be the leader of the defense last year, but now the role has spread to other guys. It is not just Deontae, you are seeing Malachi Moore be a leader, Dallas Turner being a leader, Justin Eboigbe being a leader, there are a lot of leaders on the defense. When there are a lot of leaders on the team, in general, that is when we have more success.”
Moore, a senior defensive back, said he’s gotten Lawson to ‘become more vocal.’
“He comes in and leads by example, but I told him that he needs to be more vocal and talk to our teammates,” Moore said about Lawson. “He has done a phenomenal job of doing that. He is a lot more vocal now. He is talking in camp, we are communicating, and everything is good.”
The in-state linebackers before Lawson were very vocal. McClain, Mosley, Ragland, Reuben Foster, Hamilton, and Evans not only made sure everyone knew what they were doing, but they also played with a passion others wanted to get behind.
Lawson has that passion, and Tide fans want to see it in the fall.
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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.
