Who are the frontrunners to start for Alabama at inside linebacker ahead of spring football?

3/31/25 MFB Spring practice Alabama Linebacker Cayden Jones (30) Photo by Kent Gidley

Alabama football will have to look to new faces to reload at inside linebacker after losing Justin Jefferson, Nikhai Hill-Green and Deontae Lawson to the NFL.

The Crimson Tide will shift toward a room filled with returning players and a transfer, Caleb Woodson. Alabama returns Cayden Jones, QB Reese, Duke Johnson, Abduall Sanders and Luke Metz. Zay Hall was the sole high school linebacker to sign with the Tide.

Jones and Reese are the most experienced returning linebackers for the Crimson Tide. Both contributed primarily on special teams during the 2025 season, but earned very limited snaps on defense.

Woodson is the most experienced inside linebacker on the Crimson Tide’s roster. He started in 17 games during his three years with the Hokies.

The transfer comes off a season in which he had 58 total tackles in nine games. Woodson is an athletic defender at 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds. He seems to excel in space, with impressive closing speed and the ability to take great angles. He also comes downhill and defends the run really well as a physical presence.

Before spring football gets rolling next week, Jones, Reese, and Woodson are the favorites to start or work in a rotation for Alabama at inside linebacker, similar to how Hill-Green, Lawson, and Jefferson were used during the 2025 season.

Reese garnered some buzz at inside linebacker during last spring when Deontae Lawson did not participate while he was recovering from an injury. Lawson said he was excited to see what Reese will do in the 2025 season, speaking to reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine.

“He wasn’t even traveling to the games, but he’s showing up to every meeting and just being present no matter what the situation was,” Lawson told reporters. “His role couldn’t grow that much last year, but he still took advantage. I’m definitely excited for him and the rest of the inside backers.”

At 6-foot and 224 pounds, Reese is a tad bit undersized, but he more than makes up for it with his pursuit of the football. He was known to play fast and physical as a linebacker at Ramsay High School. He was also among the best coverage linebackers Touchdown Alabama had ever evaluated. Alabama needs to establish starting linebackers at both inside linebacker positions in 2025 and trusted depth. Reese should be in this mix.

Jones is a 6-foot-4, 228-pound linebacker who was recruited as a hybrid linebacker under Nick Saban. He fits the Crimson Tide’s style of play as an athletic defender with the ability to play in space.

These three are among the frontrunners to start at the position, but Metz, Sanders, Johnson and Hall will get their shots as well.