Alabama football fans should get ready to see more and more of Xavier Griffin.
Griffin is a true freshman linebacker for the Crimson Tide, but he is digesting information like a much older player. The young but talented linebacker is considered to be a hybrid blend of an inside linebacker and an edge defender. His 6-foot-3 frame combined with his athleticism gives him the opportunity to be productive at both spots.
Alabama’s defensive coordinator Kane Wommack feels the Tide is starting to be able to put more on Griffin’s plate after just five games as the former five-star continues to elevate his role at ‘multiple positions.’
“He’s able to handle a little more volume,” Wommack said. “And so that’s where we were playing him primarily at the inside linebacker position and kept his world fairly tight when we used him as a rusher. Now we’re starting to be able to do more things with him. You know, we used him on some base downs, first and second down at the outside linebacker position and at the inside linebacker position. I think probably the thing that I’ve been most impressed with right now is we have expanded his role as a pass rusher, but his inside linebacker, his stacked linebacker reps are really, really good. We are able to add more on to him and not at the expense of what he is doing as an inside linebacker. I can’t think of a freshman that we have been able to put this much on him, I think is a real credit to the work he has put in and the work Chuck Morrell has done with him. I think he is in a good place right now, and he is playing really physical. When the ball turns over and commits, he is just playing at a fever pitch and playing really physical.”
Griffin led Alabama in tackles with nine total tackles against Mississippi State, and he was productive throughout the game. He also added one tackle for loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry.
Kalen DeBoer complimented Griffin’s growth after the game.
“Just even last week, he had a time or two where he’s got a chance to make a play or sometimes there’s times he can go after the quarterback and be aggressive,” DeBoer said. “Sometimes we need him to sit back and let the quarterback declare some things. And I thought he took the information, things he needed to improve from last week and went out there and made a lot of plays.”
The linebacker looks to be in line to experience even more playing time against Georgia in a top-10 matchup on Saturday.
