Why Alabama football’s linebackers are playing their best football later in season

Sep 13, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Yhonzae Pierre (42) celebrate a turnover with teammates Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Deontae Lawson (0) and linebacker Justin Jefferson (10) during the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Leong-Imagn Images

Alabama football’s linebackers are coming alive in the latter portion of the 2025 regular season. The play of Deontae Lawson, Justin Jefferson and Nihkai Hill-Green has head coach Kalen DeBoer saying that they are playing their best football perhaps of the entire year.

DeBoer was asked specifically about his linebacking core on Wednesday and how they’ve played as a whole.

“Yeah, they’re definitely playing as good as they’ve played all season,” DeBoer said on the SEC Coaches Teleconference. “I think it’s a combination of different things. You got a Deontae Lawson who’s a veteran player who physically is coming back all season from what happened a year ago in this very game, and then you got Justin Jefferson just doing a great job of taking the reps he’s had and building his game. He isn’t just one dimensional. He’s in there playing physical. He uses his speed, but he also just really understands what he’s seeing and how our scheme fits and matches up to it. And then, you got Nikhai [Hill Green] coming in, and I really appreciate the patience he had. Every single day was diligent about his work, and he’s really improved. He should. He should improve on a steep trajectory because anything was completely new to him coming here. The fumble he forced I think is one piece of it, but there’s been a lot of plays throughout the year, especially probably in the last three or four games where even on the sideline, I can just see how quickly he’s responding and how hard he’s playing, confidently as well.”

Lawson, Jefferson and Hill-Green were flying around the field last Saturday and made a chunk of the plays to keep the LSU Tigers out of the end zone. The three combined for 21 total tackles in that game.

Like DeBoer said, Lawson has been battling to get back to the best version of himself pre-ACL tear. It may have taken a couple of games, but Lawson is looking like his old self again. Lawson has racked up 47 tackles and showed up big time against South Carolina with a clutch forced fumble in the fourth quarter that was recovered by his teammate Tim Keenan III.

Jefferson is flying around the field like a missile, running nearly 22 miles per hour when he has an opportunity to come downhill and build up some steam. Jefferson currently has 54 total tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and two sacks on the year.

Teams can’t forget about Hill-Green, who’s finding his footing in the Alabama defense. Things are starting to click for the Colorado transfer. He has 31 total tackles and a forced fumble so far this season.

The trio of linebackers will face a playoff-hungry Oklahoma team who’s sitting on the outside looking in. A win over Oklahoma would likely clinch the SEC Championship for the Crimson Tide and erase the Sooners from the playoff race.