Alabama football scrimmaged on Thursday, and the competition at inside linebacker is heating up as a sophomore linebacker has the coaching staff making note of him.
Kalen DeBoer said sometimes from his vantage point, he doesn’t get to see every single thing, but DeBoer made note of linebacker Luke Metz as a guy that’s flying sideline to sideline.
“I’m speaking more about the week of practice, probably not so much about this scrimmage, but a guy like Luke Metz being able to run sideline to sideline,” DeBoer said. “He’s a guy I’d make a note of. Just like the way he plays. Every snap as a young guy, he’s getting better and better as you would expect.”
Metz is one of the linebackers that this Alabama coaching staff has continued to mention throughout fall camp, and he even has DeBoer saying make note of the sophomore linebacker.
Last season, Metz played in all 15 contests for Alabama on special teams, totaling seven stops. He’s emerging as a top candidate to start at inside linebacker.
Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack spoke highly of Metz on Tuesday, saying he’s playing at a very high level this year.
“Luke has always been a guy that, when you watch his tape, the energy that he plays with, the passion he plays with, and the physicality,” Wommack said. “I thought at the beginning of spring ball he got a little bit where he was more concerned about the scheme and making a mistake. He was playing a little bit hesitant at the beginning of spring. I talked to him like, ‘Hey man, go back to who you are and what you do. You’re a guy that can go run and hit and be decisive.’ He took that to heart. He took strides as we moved into spring ball, and then you saw that through the summertime, and right now he’s playing at a very high level. Excited about him.”
Alongside Metz is Virginia Tech transfer Caleb Woodson. The senior brings a veteran piece to the linebacker room as well as experience, but Metz was the first name out of DeBoer’s mouth on Thursday after the scrimmage.
Spots are gradually being filled as fall camp goes on, and it sounds like the coaching staff is seeing a lot from Metz.
