The defense for Alabama football has returned to being a group with something to prove.
Fans of the Crimson Tide were not pleased with the Pete Golding experiment for five years.
Kevin Steele performed his responsibility in one season, getting Alabama to play physical, fast, and fundamentally sound. The South Carolina native propelled the Tide to a Southeastern Conference Championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff. Kane Wommack, a former head coach at South Alabama, replaces Steele in his retirement.
Wommack inherits a defense that has a bad taste in its mouth after losing to Michigan at the Rose Bowl in overtime. Alabama wants to be a feared group again, and a veteran linebacker unveiled the ultimate goal for this team in the fall. Jihaad Campbell, a New Jersey native, is all in on a national championship.
“Our end goal is to win a national championship.”
Jihaad Campbell leads a defensive unit bound for greatness this fall.
#RollTide | @Gatorade pic.twitter.com/9Cwjqolmdo— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) June 24, 2024
“When I came here for the first time, it was a culture shock for me,” Campbell said.
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“Just seeing all the rings, all the trophies, it [Alabama] is just bound for greatness.”
Campbell, a former five-star in the 2022 recruiting class, could have left after Nick Saban’s retirement.
He chose to remain with the program and build off his success from last year. Campbell totaled 66 tackles, four tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries, three pass breakup, and an interception.
He has always been one to persevere and is behind Kalen DeBoer’s vision of winning a national championship as a first-year head coach at Alabama.
“I am not the type of person that’s going to jump ship,” Campbell said. “I will wait and see and test things out. I love this staff already. They bring great energy. Each and every day, we are going to get better.”
Campbell should start at one of two inside linebacker positions in the fall.
Alabama fans are prepared to see the return of a monster defense.
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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.
