Alabama lost its leading tackler this offseason with Jihaad Campbell heading to the NFL. He finished the 2024 season 117 tackles and 12 tackles for loss. The New Jersey native is being projected as a first-round pick.
Someone will be tasked with stepping up to replace him in 2025. Who will it be?
There are two strong options to replace Campbell. Fifth-year Senior Justin Jefferson and graduate senior Nikhai Hill-Green are the frontrunners to earn the starting job.
Jefferson is entering his third season at The Capstone. The Tennessee native transferred to Alabama by way of Pearl River Community College. In two seasons, Jefferson has played in 26 games with three starts. He started the final three games of the 2024 season after starting linebacker Deontae Lawson suffered a season-ending injury.
Jefferson wore the green dot and related play calls to the rest of the defense. With Lawson returning, Jefferson has a promising opportunity to start alongside him and look to replace Campbell in 2025. Jefferson has a knack for finding the football and is a sure tackler. In 2024, he recorded 60 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss.
Hill-Green is a new face in Tuscaloosa. The Maryland native transferred to Alabama from Colorado this offseason. He has played in 40 games over the course of four seasons at Michigan, Charlotte, and Colorado. Altogether, he has accumulated 206 tackles and 23 tackles for loss.
Jefferson and Hill-Green will both play a lot regardless of who starts next season. In order to replace a player like Campbell, Alabama will need to have difference makers at the linebacker position. Luckily for the Crimson Tide, Jefferson and Hill-Green fit the profile.
I think it is safe to say that Alabama is in good hands heading into the spring with experienced, developed linebacker options in Jefferson, Hill-Green, and Lawson.
GET THE BEST ALABAMA FOOTBALL INSIDER INFORMATION, MESSAGE BOARD ACCESS, AND RECRUITING COVERAGE TODAY! SIGN UP HERETO UNLOCK OUR SUBSCRIBER ONLY CONTENT!*
Brody Smoot is a team reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “follow” him on X, via @brodysmoot.
