Alabama football will have an explosive offense, but Crimson Tide fans want its defense to dominate too.
Kalen DeBoer inherits several defensive veterans from the Nick Saban era, including Malachi Moore, Deontae Lawson, Tim Kennan III, Jehiem Oatis, Tim Smith, Jihaad Campbell, Quandarrius Robinson, and Jah-Marien Latham among others.
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The Tide was at his best under Saban when the offense and defense complemented each other.
Alabama’s defense will face challenging opponents in Kane Wommack’s first year as coordinator; however, the Tide has a player that will be up for the Chuck Bednarik Award for college football’s defensive player of the year.
Malachi Moore, a native of Trussville, Ala., wants to be the best in every sense of the word.
The former four-star from the Tide’s 2020 recruiting class is driving toward greatness.
He was an impactful freshman on Alabama’s 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship team — collecting 44 tackles, four tackles for loss, six pass breakups, two quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, a fumble returned for a touchdown and a team-high three interceptions.
Moore suffered injuries, yet he bounced back strong in the 2023 season.
He was voted a permanent team captain after posting 52 tackles, five tackles for loss, five pass breakups, a quarterback hurry, and an interception. Moore propelled Alabama’s defense to a Southeastern Conference Championship victory over Georgia, but he wants another national title ring. He is the unquestioned leader in the defensive secondary, but Moore will be possibly be the undoubted leader for the defense.
He came in the same freshman class as Will Anderson Jr., who won the Bednarik Award in 2022 for the Tide. Jonathan Allen, a former Alabama defensive lineman, led one of the best group of the Saban era in 2016.
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He won the Bednarik honor in 2016 while Minkah Fitzpatrick captured the award in 2017.
Fitzpatrick, a former All-American safety, pushed the Tide to a CFP National Championship in 2017.
Moore is set up for a special year, and he’s worked hard for it.
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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.
