Why DeBoer Feels Tide's Defense is in "Better Spot"

Alabama finished the 2025 season with a top-15 total defense, but Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer said on Friday morning that he thought the Tide's defense is in a "better spot" as Alabama enters spring practice on Sunday, March 8.

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In an interview with Greg McElroy and Cole Cubelic on Mac and Cube in the Morning, the Tide's third-year head coach mentioned that Alabama had several players limited last spring due to injuries. Three major defensive injuries were linebacker Deontae Lawson with a torn ACL, safety Keon Sabb with a broken foot, and cornerback Domani Jackson, among others.

DeBoer said they "didn't hit the ground running" in a 31-17 loss to Florida State in week one.

Alabama will again have players limited or miss spring practice, including star defensive backs Zabien Brown and Bray Hubbard, but as a whole, DeBoer feels his team is in a better spot defensively going into 2026.

"It's exciting - there's always a guy here and a guy here that will be limited in spring ball, but we're in a better spot in my mind on that side of the ball in particular, just with who we have coming back, the experience especially in the secondary with everyone except for Domani Jackson being back," DeBoer told McElroy and Cubelic. "The linebacker position is the one probably hit the hardest. We brought in Caleb Woodson, who is a veteran, a captain from where he is coming. And then some young guys who were being groomed for this spot when we recruited them two years ago."

Alabama lost its top three inside linebackers from last season, with Deontae Lawson, Justin Jefferson, and Nikhai-Hill-Green departing for the NFL after exhausting their NCAA eligibility.

"D-line, I think we did a nice job putting some things together with returners and the portal, where I feel like we're at least gonna be bigger, and I like the mentality that we have in the early stages," DeBoer said.

Alabama lost two defensive linemen to the NFL draft, with Tim Keenan III and LT Overton. In the transfer portal, Alabama lost James Smith, Keon Keeley, Jordan Renaud, and Kelby Collins. Alabama returned four starters in the secondary, including safeties Keon Sabb and Bray Hubbard, who opted to return for their final season instead of going to the NFL draft. Linebacker Yhonzae Pierre also chose to return to Alabama rather than declare for the draft.

The inside linebacker position will face competition this spring, with redshirt sophomore QB Reese and junior Cayden Jones as the top returners from last season, and the addition of Caleb Woodson via the transfer portal from Virginia Tech.

"QB would be definitely one of them," DeBoer said. "C.J. Jones, who missed a little bit of the season last year with an injury, is coming back in his third year now. I mentioned Caleb Woodson as the lone transfer in. You got Duke [Johnson] and Luke - that's the easiest way to remember them - Luke Metz and these guys were heavy, heavy special teams.

"Our special teams were extremely young. That's another exciting element to our team was these guys all - not all, but much more production, and I'm not talking about just the specialists. Much more production, especially from those mid groups - the linebackers, the running backs, the tight ends - those being in a much better place with guys who are experienced special teams-wise. Those guys are all going to be competing and battling for that linebacker spot with the loss of Justin, Deontae, and Nikhai."

Alabama starts spring practice on Sunday, March 8.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.