Summer workouts will be here soon for the Crimson Tide as the summer enrollees have moved in on campus.
In this series, the staff at Touchdown Alabama Magazine will project the starters for each position group.
Alabama has depth on its defensive line, including players with a lot of playing experience.
RELATED: A projection of Alabama’s starting offensive line ahead of summer workouts
Kane Wommack, the Crimson Tide’s defensive coordinator, brings a 4-2-5 “Swarm Defense” that should feature numerous players attacking up front. “Wolf” and “Bandit” are two terms Crimson Tide fans are trying to get accustomed to in the new defensive scheme. The wolf is the strong-side edge rusher at linebacker, which was known as “SAM” in the 3-4 alignment.
The bandit is the defensive end position.
This position can either rush the quarterback standing up at the line of scrimmage or have a hand in the dirt coming off the ball. Freddie Roach is in his fifth season coaching defensive linemen.
A projection of Alabama’s starting defensive line is below.
Jah-Marien Latham, Bandit
Jah-Marien Latham has worked and waited patiently for a starting opportunity on Alabama’s defensive line.
The former standout from Reform High School in Pickens (Ala.) came to the Crimson Tide as an elite defensive end talent in the 2020 recruiting class.
Latham is one of few members from the 2020 class on the College Football Playoff National Championship team in the Coronavirus season.
The 6-foot-3, 275-pounder expanded his role in 2023 on the defensive front — totaling eight tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, four quarterback hurries, and a pass breakup.
He played in 14 games last year, helping the Tide to a Southeastern Conference Championship.
Latham has 31 games of experience under his belt, so he knows the culture, expectation, and how to win his box up front. He worked as the starting “Bandit” during spring practice and is ready to excel.
Tim Kennan III, Nose Tackle
Tim Kennan III represents the quintessential nose tackle for Alabama football.
The 6-foot-2, 315-pounder commands a double team, stuffs running backs, and has wiggle to slide through and pressure quarterbacks for sacks. Kennan emerged with a monster campaign as a sophomore in 2023, especially after trimming down to achieve healthy playing weight.
He earned the starting job at nose tackle, pushing Jehiem Oatis to defensive end.
Kennan exploded for 38 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack, seven quarterback hurries, and a pass breakup.
He dominated Texas A&M’s offensive line at Kyle Field to a tune of eight tackles, including a sack.
His decision to return to Alabama puts him in a position to have an All-SEC and an All-American kind of season on the interior.
Jehiem Oatis, Defensive Tackle
He changed one letter from the spelling of his name before spring practice, but Jehiem Oatis is expected to be a force on the interior defensive line in the fall for Alabama.
Oatis fits as the second defensive tackle in Wommack’s 4-2-5 system.
He, like Kennan, dropped weight to earn playing time as a true freshman in 2022. Oatis won Freshman All-SEC Team recognition from the league’s coaches in 2022 and got better as a sophomore. The 6-foot-5, 320-pounder played 13 games last year, posting 26 tackles, a tackle for loss, half a sack, two quarterback hurries, and two pass breakups. Oatis has played in 25 career games, including 13 starts on the line. He and Kennan should disrupt the timing of a lot of offensive plays from opponents in the fall.
Tim Smith/James Smith, Defensive End
Alabama will have an interesting competition for the end spot opposite Latham.
Tim Smith and James Smith will battle for it.
Both came as five stars in their respective signing class; however, Tim Smith possesses a CFP National Championship ring from the 2020 season.
The native Floridian has played a lot of football, seeing action in 52 career games — including 19 starts.
Smith started 10 of 14 games in 2023 as a defensive end, collecting 31 tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks, and a quarterback hurry.
The 6-foot-4, 302-pounder has the power, explosiveness, and quickness to affect running backs for negative yards and pressure quarterbacks.
People have been waiting for Smith to break out for a while.
James Smith came to the Tide as a vicious pass rusher from Carver High School in Montgomery (Ala.) in the 2023 class.
The 6-foot-3, 296-pounder provides impressive power, strength, and speed up front. He posted two tackles and a fumble recovery in nine games last season. Smith had a really good spring, showing impressive get off in the A-Day game.
If the elder Smith does not secure the spot, the young Smith will take it in fall camp.
Quandarrius Robinson/Keanu Koht, Wolf
Alabama has several body types at outside linebacker, but who will start at the “Wolf” position?
Quandarrius Robinson and Keanu Koht are competing for it.
Robinson, a Birmingham (Ala.) native, was on the 2020 CFP National Championship team as a five-star freshman.
He showed flashes of potential in 2023 with 24 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and two quarterback hurries. The redshirt senior has filled out his body at 6-foot-5 and 231 pounds.
Robinson has the power, athleticism, length, quickness, and experience to be very good at the wolf position. He has played in 34 career games, including a career-high 14 matchups last season.
Koht, a native Floridian, came as a four-star in the 2021 signing class.
The 6-foot-4, 232-pounder has battled injuries, but saw action last season. He had four tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in three matchups. Koht has the quick-twitched explosiveness to rush the quarterback standing up or with a hand in the dirt.
It will be interesting to see who wins the wolf spot between he and Robinson.
Backup for the Tide on its DL
-Damon Payne Jr.
-LT Overton
-Keon Keeley
-Jordan Renaud
-Hunter Osborne
-Edric Hill
-Jeremiah Beaman
-Isaia Faga
-Steve “Bolo” Mboumoua
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
