Preseason camp for Alabama football starts next week on Wednesday.
After a good showing at Southeastern Conference Media Days, Kalen DeBoer is ready for his team to take the practice field and show what it has for the upcoming season. He has built a winning culture at each stop on his coaching journey, but he has an opportunity to do something special in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
RELATED: 5 Alabama offensive players expected to take huge steps forward in fall camp
In this perspective series, we will look at the five offensive and defensive players for the Crimson Tide expected to take huge strides forward in fall practice.
We have discussed offense, so now we break down defensive players.
Tim Smith, DL
Tim Smith has no choice but to take huge strides in fall camp for Alabama.
He is in his fifth season as a defensive lineman for the Crimson Tide.
The 6-foot-4, 302-pounder from Florida came in the 2020 recruiting class as a five-star. Smith is one of a few players on this team that has a College Football Playoff National Championship ring from the 2020 season. He has yet to have a truly dominant campaign, and he needs one now.
Smith totaled 31 tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks, and a quarterback hurry in 2023.
He helped the Tide to an SEC Championship last season, but he is capable of more production.
Keanu Koht, OLB
Will Anderson, Dallas Turner, and Chris Braswell are in the National Football League.
Keanu Koht, a Florida native, sees preseason camp as his chance to rise as the next dominant edge rusher.
RELATED: Opinion: Should Bryant-Denny Stadium have Nick Saban’s name on it?
He learned a lot from Anderson, Turner, and Braswell and is ready to put it into practice. Quandarrius Robinson has more experience, but Koht gives Alabama’s pass rush a better upside.
The 6-foot-4, 232-pounder has speed, quickness, edge-bending capabilities, explosiveness, and power. Koht is very twitchy upon the snap and can convert speed to power in his attack.
Koht’s playing style makes for an ideal “Wolf” linebacker in Kane Wommack’s defense.
Jeheim Oatis, DL
A healthy Jeheim Oatis is crucial for the success of Alabama’s defense.
He went through a body transformation to get on the field as a true freshman and he succeeded.
Oatis saw his number of starts decrease last year, but he totaled 26 tackles, a tackle for loss, two quarterback hurries, and two pass breakups.
The 6-foot-5, 320-pounder has to win his one-on-one matchups in the middle. He and Tim Kennan III have to collapse the middle of an opponent’s offensive line for Alabama’s defensive ends and outside linebackers to have success.
Oatis is in his third season with Freddie Roach, so this should be a dominant year for him.
Jihaad Campbell, ILB
Deontae Lawson gets a lot of attention, but this is an important fall camp for Jihaad Campbell.
The former five-star from New Jersey had some breakout moments in 2023.
He finished with 66 tackles (third on the team), four tackles for loss, three pass breakups, three quarterback hurries, and an interception. Campbell stepped up a lot when Lawson dealt with injuries last year. He will play in the “Sting” linebacker role, meaning Campbell will be flying sideline to sideline knocking players out. He has the lateral quickness, coverage ability, and instincts to shoot gaps on running plays. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder can also pressure quarterbacks on a blitz, if needed.
He is in store for a marquee season.
Domani Jackson, DB
Alabama lost Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry and Terrion Arnold to the National Football League.
Who does it have that can lock up receivers on the boundary at cornerback?
Domani Jackson, a transfer from the University of Southern California, looks to answer the question in fall camp. He enrolled early for spring practice and did well for the Crimson Tide. Jackson embraces the grind, toughness, and hard work of Alabama’s culture. He played two seasons at USC, but the Mater Dei High School alum will have much better coaching in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Jackson has the tools to be an elite defender, but he has to show it for the Tide.
*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 senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
