Alabama football’s head coach Kalen DeBoer believes the Crimson Tide’s linebacker room is built differently than what the Crimson Tide expected it to be ahead of the 2025 season.
DeBoer thinks this is why this group should be seen as a bright spot for the Tide. His optimism stems from the unexpected return of both Deontae Lawson and Justin Jefferson. The veteran tandem reunites back on defense for the Tide after combining for 13 tackles for loss, 146 total tackles, four sacks, five pass deflections and two forced fumbles in 2024.
The Alabama head coach said returning both linebackers has given the Tide the luxury of depending on experience at the position instead of young talent.
“I think at linebacker, I don’t want to say it’s a pleasant surprise, but we weren’t expecting to have Deontae Lawson,” DeBoer said during an interview with Josh Pate of CBS Sports. “Unfortunately, he had an injury, but he is back and that turned leadership in that spot. And with Justin Jefferson coming back through the junior college rule and things like that allowed him to have a year that we weren’t expecting. That group all of a sudden went from what we envisioned this year being probably a little more youthful, some new faces, to all of a sudden being a rock solid that were really counting on to lead the charge at linebacker. How can you not love that?”
The Alabama linebacker room is now expected to be a strength in 2025.
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