Alabama football’s head coach Kalen DeBoer is excited to have veteran linebacker, Deontae Lawson back in Tuscaloosa for another year.
The Mobile, Alabama native saw his season cut short in 2024 with a ‘lower-extremity injury.’ He still managed to have 76 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and two sacks before suffering a season-ending injury against Oklahoma in the tenth game of the season. Lawson announced he would be returning to Alabama next season earlier this month.
“That was big,” DeBoer said on Tuesday. “First and foremost, we wanted what’s best for Deontae and unfortunately with the injury and I think in his mind, in fact, I know in his mind that this was it. He was excited about moving on to the next level but life throws you curveballs. The emotions of the injury and things like that kind of let him kind of work through it. I think he just really realized it the best course of action, what’s best for him was to come back. It is exciting for us. You get a team captain, a guy who’s so well respected in the locker room and well respected by the fan base.”
Lawson confirmed he was thinking about moving on to the NFL for quite some time but decided it was best he stay in Tuscaloosa during an interview with the Crimson Tide Sports Production.
“I was planning on declaring but stuff happens and you never really know why,” Lawson said during an interview on the Crimson Tide Sports Network. “But you know I put all my faith in the good Lord, and the good Lord above, he put it was best to take a step back and not go based off how you feel but with what your intuition is telling you if that makes sense. I had some deep talks with a lot of people. My family played a huge role in this decision. I just don’t feel accomplished here yet. I don’t really feel like I got things to prove but like I just don’t feel like my story is complete here.”
Lawson is expected to return to action during fall camp.
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Justin Smith is the Director of Recruiting for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via @Jdsmith31Smith
