Alabama football has a few vocal leaders on this team, but its emotional leaders and leaders by example have the Crimson Tide in line to play for a College Football Playoff National Championship.
Jalen Milroe, a sophomore quarterback, had to grow into a vocal leader. He is not known for speaking, but Milroe understood his teammates on offense needed him to do it. The Tide has a few vocal players on defense, but names have performed well by not being as talkative. Nick Saban detailed the different leadership in Monday’s presser that’s helped the Tide to this point.
RELATED: Brian Kelly continues to complain about Dallas Turner’s hit on LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels
He highlighted names such as Chris Braswell, Deontae Lawson, Tim Kennan III, and Malachi Moore.
“Tim Kennan is a good leader up front,” Saban said.
“I think Deontae Lawson is a really good leader at linebacker. Dallas Turner is a good leader at outside linebacker. Malachi is a good leader in the secondary. So, we have guys at each position that set a good example of how you need to prepare for a game and how you need to practice. Braswell is one of those guys as well, and he’s on the leadership council because of how he goes about what he does.”
Each player Saban named is a marquee contributor on defense.
Braswell and Turner are the best pass rushers on the team and in the Southeastern Conference. The tandem has 14 sacks — seven each — combined and 20 tackles for loss. They have 16 quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles, and a touchdown between them.
RELATED: Alabama uniforms unveiled for SEC Championship matchup against Georgia
Kennan, a defensive tackle, has 32 stops on the season, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack. He ranks second on the defense for quarterback hurries (seven) and has a pass breakup. Lawson, a redshirt sophomore, has 52 tackles (second on the team) — despite missing last week’s game with an ankle injury. He’s collected 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, four quarterback hurries, and two breakups. Lawson is a semifinalist for the Dick Butkus Award while Turner is a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award.
Moore, a senior defensive back, has 39 tackles.
He has four tackles for loss, four pass breakups, a quarterback hurry, and an interception. This group on defense has shut opponents down in the second half of games. Alabama will face Georgia in a SEC Championship showdown at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Dec. 2 in Atlanta, Ga.
Click here to follow the Bama Elite Podcast
*Get the BEST Alabama football insider information, message board access, and recruiting coverage today! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our subscriber-only content!*
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.
