Preview of Alabama football’s inside linebacker competition ahead of fall camp

July 30, 2025; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Linebacker QB Reese knocks a pass away from fellow linebacker Vito Perry during the first practice session of the preseason for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

The Alabama Crimson Tide’s defense will feature a handful of new faces at the inside linebacker position this season. 

Virginia Tech transfer Caleb Woodson looks to have cemented himself as one of the Tide’s starting inside linebackers entering his first season in Tuscaloosa. Junior QB Reese, sophomore Luke Metz and junior Cayden Jones are expected to compete for the starting role alongside Woodson, with a final decision from head coach Kalen DeBoer and his staff expected to arise during fall camp. 

Both Reese and Metz are extremely promising linebackers who could quickly prove to hold their own in a starting role this season. Reese has recorded six total tackles and one fumble recovery across his first two seasons at Alabama, while Metz flashed his potential on numerous occasions playing a special teams role in 2025. Jones was a bit banged up last season, but he did contribute on special teams as well when he was healthy. 

Duke Johnson and Abduall Sanders remain in the mix for the starting inside linebacker role as well. The duo is widely regarded as longer shots compared to the other three aforementioned linebackers to begin the year as starters in 2026, but each linebacker could play a significant role as the season progresses nonetheless. 

Metz, Reese and Jones have showcased their abilities on multiple occasions over the course of the offseason. Each linebacker can excel in a multitude of ways, and one of the three will more than likely emerge as the Crimson Tide’s starting inside linebacker alongside Woodson to begin the year in 2026.