Alabama football will be down an inside linebacker for the first half versus Wisconsin.
Justin Jefferson, a former junior college transfer, was ejected for targeting last week against South Florida.
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He finished with 10 total tackles — including eight solo stops — a tackle for loss and a sack.
Jefferson has 12 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a sack in two matchups; however, someone has to step up in his absence this week. Alabama has two players that are next up with Jeremiah Alexander and Justin Okoronkwo.
It will be interesting to see which one gets the nod for the first half.
3/23/22 MFB Practice
Alabama linebacker Jeremiah Alexander (35)
Photo by Robert Sutton
Alexander, a redshirt sophomore, went from outside to inside linebacker. He was a pass-rushing specialist at Thompson High School (Alabaster, Ala.), but he has grown in communicating on the inside. Alexander has played in 18 career games, but the former five-star wants an opportunity to have a significant impact. He dropped 11 pounds in the summer, going from 249 to 232 on his 6-foot-2 frame.
Alexander has increased his quickness and can provide much excitement as an inside linebacker.
Mar 6, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Linebacker Justin Okoronkwo does a drill during practice for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team Wednesday.
Okoronkwo, a freshman, arrived to the University of Alabama from Germany as a three-star.
He had a really good spring and impressed defensive coordinator Kane Wommack in fall camp. The 6-foot-3, 228-pounder saw action against Western Kentucky, yet he has the potential to be really good for Alabama.
Okoronkwo can fit run gaps, has lateral quickness, tackles well, and is pretty good in coverage.
He has not played football long, but he has very good upside.
Alexander and Okoronkwo are quality options, but we will see who the coaches chose for the first half versus Wisconsin.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
