Transfer defensive lineman says the Alabama defense will be ‘unstoppable’ this fall

Devan Thompkins is set to play his first season with Alabama this fall after transferring from USC, and he is confident in his new teammates.

Thompkins is projected to start for the Tide this fall at its bandit position. The position is a field-side defensive end in Kane Wommack’s 4-2-5 scheme.

LT Overton started at the position last season for the Crimson Tide.

Thompkins met with media members for the first time as an Alabama player on Thursday, and he expressed how he feels the Alabama defense will play this fall.

“Fast, physical, relentless, unstoppable really,” Thompkins told reporters. “Like if we do what the coach has been telling us. I feel like we’ve been trending in the right direction. I feel like we’ll be a very relentless and an unstoppable defense for sure.”

Alabama’s defense was highlighted after all of the Tide’s preseason scrimmages by viewers Touchdown Alabama talked.

Thompkins recorded 56 total tackles, nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks across his four seasons as a Trojan. Alabama’s defense coordinator Kane Wommack has consistently spoken highly of Thompkins as a projected key member of an Alabama defense expected to be really good this fall. Wommack’s most recent praise for the USC transfer was centered around his ability to get after the quarterback.

“I think Devan Thompkins does a really good job,” Wommack said. “ But certainly if you look at Devan’s career, you look at Dez Zulu and, and then obviously Yhonzae, those guys are the most experienced to this point.”

Alabama’s defense football returns one of the best secondaries in college football and has added size and depth to its defensive front. The group is expected to be an early strength for the Tide.