While sophomore Da’Ron Payne fits well in this topic, defensive end Da’Shawn Hand worked closely beside Jonathan Allen and Dalvin Tomlinson during the last two years at Alabama. With Allen, Tomlinson and Ryan Anderson (times at DE) all in the NFL Draft, Hand returns next fall as the alpha dog on a talented line.
Listed at 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds, he recorded 21 total tackles (3.5 for loss), two sacks, five quarterback hurries and a forced fumble through 15 games—as the Crimson Tide secured a Southeastern Conference championship and a Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Trophy in 2016.
Hand, who was a unanimous five-star prospect in the Tide’s 2014 signing class, will enter his senior season with 44 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, seven sacks and seven quarterback hurries in 38 career games.
It’s taken him a moment to get bigger in the weight room and smarter in film study; nevertheless, he’s ready to teach a new wave of stars throughout spring and fall practice. In describing Allen, Tomlinson, Anderson and others that graduated after last season, multiple guys praised their energy, work ethic and overall mentality both on and off the field. Junior linebacker Jamey Mosley referred to the departees as “Alabama’s backbone.”
“All the leaders we had this season were alpha dogs,” Mosley said following the Tide’s 54-16 win over Florida in the SEC title game. “Those guys were born just straight up monsters.”
Despite having big shoes to fill, Hand possess the capability of being a complete monster.
He goes into his second season with defensive line coach Karl Dunbar and has his sights on a national championship and a first-round draft stock, following the 2017 college football season.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
