Alabama inside linebacker feels group ‘is ready to play,’ despite being young

Photo By Alabama Athletics

Alabama football’s inside linebacker group is one of the least experienced rooms on the Crimson Tide’s roster.

The Tide returns a group of young linebackers ahead of the 2026 season. Unfortunately for Alabama, neither of them has starting experience or much meaningful playing time under their belt at the position. The Tide added Caleb Woodson from the transfer portal this offseason, and he immediately became the most experienced inside linebacker on the Tide’s roster.

QB Reese, who is expected to compete for a starting position at linebacker for Alabama this fall, is confident in himself and his teammates, despite them being a young group.

“I just feel like our linebacker corps is bonding and gelling well,” Reese told Huntsville’s WAAY 31 ABC’s Trevor Denton. “Everybody thinks that we’re young, but we’re ready to play for sure.”

QB Reese has a message about Alabama’s LB room:

“Everybody thinks that we’re young, but we’re ready to play for sure.”

Reese was a special guest in Decatur for the Daikin Spirit of America Golf Classic. pic.twitter.com/jC7iTzRIIX

— Trevor Denton (@trevordenton37) June 24, 2026

Woodson is projected to occupy one of the Tide’s starting linebacker roles this fall. Reese, Luke Metz, Cayden Jones, Duke Johnson and Abduall Sanders are expected to compete for the other starting linebacker role.

Alabama rotated three inside linebackers consistently during the 2025 season.