OPINION: Former 3-star Alabama LB prepared to live up to Crimson Tide legends

Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

Offense scores points and gets college football fans interested, but winning a College Football Playoff National Championship in today’s NIL and transfer portal climate still requires having a defense with a pulse.

All three levels of defense are important; however, one position sets the tone.

Alabama football’s wolf linebacker position catches attention on first day of spring practice

Excellence on defense starts with a cerebral, yet intense inside linebacker. In its national championship runs during the Nick Saban era, the University of Alabama consistently had an intense in-state inside linebacker that made the unit exceptional.

Rolando McClain, a native of Decatur, Ala., started the trend in 2009, and marquee athletes such as C.J. Mosley (Theodore, Ala.), Nico Johnson (Andalusia, Ala.), Reggie Ragland (Madison, Ala.), Reuben Foster (Roanoke, Ala.), Shaun Dion Hamilton (Montgomery, Ala.), and Rashaan Evans (Auburn, Ala.) followed. Deontae Lawson was good for the program as a Mobile (Ala.) native, but the next great one is on the roster.

QB Reese started his recruitment under Coach Saban; nevertheless, he played his first two years of college football under Kalen DeBoer. The Birmingham (Ala.) native arrived in the 2024 signing class as a three-star prospect from Ramsay High School. He was not as highly scouted as his predecessors listed above, yet the talent, potential, intensity, and versatility is on the same level. The 6-foot, 229-pounder was a heat-seeking missile in high school, generating every marquee play imaginable. Reese averaged a jaw-dropping 11.9 tackles per game at Ramsay as a senior in 2023 and totaled 167 tackles for the season.

He posted 25 tackles for loss, four sacks, and six forced fumbles, en route to leading the Rams to the Alabama 5A state finals of the playoffs. Multiple former players, including Mike McCoy, sees something special in Reese when he’s on the field. He has played in 20 career games – including 15 last season – collected six tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

Reese tallied a forced fumble and a fumble recovery versus Louisiana-Monroe, while making a punishing hit on special teams against South Carolina. He possesses the versatility to be either a middle “Mike” linebacker or an off-ball “Sting” linebacker.

Alabama football safety returns to practice on first day of spring

Kane Wommack, Alabama’s defensive coordinator, rotates three players at inside linebacker in his 4–2-5 system.

Star ranking of former in-state Alabama ILBs

-Rolando McClain: 2007 (4-star)

-Nico Johnson: 2009 (4-star)

-C.J. Mosley: 2010 (4-star)

-Reggie Ragland: 2012 (4-star)

-Reuben Foster: 2013 (5-star)

-Rashaan Evans: 2014 (5-star)

-Shaun Dion Hamilton: 2014 (4-star)

-Deontae Lawson: 2021 (4-star)

The trio of Lawson, Jihaad Campbell, and Justin Jefferson got work in 2024, while Lawson, Jefferson, and Nikhai Hill-Green were rotated in 2025. Reese should get an opportunity with Cayden Jones and Caleb Woodson (transfer from Virginia Tech), but it will be interesting how much of a jump he takes in spring practice.

Reese has all the capabilities needed to be a star.

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Stephen M. Smith is a team writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine.  You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.