DeBoer tells what he’s seen from Alabama football’s new defensive line transfers

Alabama Linebacker Desmond Umeozulu (9) in action during the Scrimmage at Thomas-Drew Practice Fields in Tuscaloosa, AL on Friday, Mar 27, 2026 - Photo Via Alabama Athletics

After Alabama frequently struggled to stop the run last season, the Crimson Tide and its coaching staff decided to hit the transfer portal to find some immediate help and replacements, and they did so, adding three major pieces to the defensive line.

One of the additions is defensive tackle Devan Thompkins, the California native who began his career with USC. At 6-foot-5, 290 pounds, Thompkins recorded 18 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble last season. Not to mention, he looks bigger in person.

Terrance Green was the second defensive tackle addition for the Tide, who also made his way to Tuscaloosa from the West Coast, after originally committing to Oregon. The Texas native stands at 6-foot-5, 330 pounds.

The third major piece that the staff added is Desmond Umeozulu, a 6-foot-6, 255-pound linebacker who transferred from South Carolina and will play an edge rusher role for Alabama after recording 10 tackles and a sack in Columbia last season.

After the Crimson Tide’s first scrimmage on Friday, head coach Kalen DeBoer spoke on what he’s seen from the trio.

“A lot of potential to set the front, let them play ball,” DeBoer said. “Not have to utilize pressures and blitzes all the time to cause chaos in the backfield. The ability to stop the run with the four, and obviously, the linebackers and your support are there to help. We have certainly a bigger group of guys than what we’ve had in the past. Last year, probably our biggest struggle against the run game wasn’t on the edges. Our system lends to making sure balls don’t get out there very often in the run game, but even in the last game, you saw people just running right down the middle of our defense. We want to be able to mix things up, but you also want to be able to just play base with the guys, and our personnel, I think, with those guys you mentioned, are going to allow us to do that. They’ve still got a ways to go, but I like the direction we’re headed.”

As DeBoer mentioned, Indiana’s dominant run game was just one example of opposing teams being able to just run the ball straight up the middle against the Tide and be able to do so quite effectively.

However, after adding 11 new players to contribute to the defensive line and run-stopping game, the Crimson Tide should be in a much better place next season, especially with how much size it has now, even just with Thompkins and Green up front.

It won’t be too long until fans can get their first glimpse of these guys in action, even in person. Alabama will be holding its annual A-Day on April 11, reverting to the traditional scrimmage, giving fans a glimpse of what the team may look like in the fall.