Heading into the offseason, Alabama fans thought the Tide’s linebacker corps was about to do a complete cast replacement—like a reboot of an old sitcom. With Deontae Lawson and Justin Jefferson prepping for graduation and Jihaad Campbell set to exit stage left for the NFL, it was as if the linebackers were planning their own disappearing act.
But surprise, surprise! Lawson decided he wasn’t ready to hang up his pigskin-poking gloves and returned for a fifth season, while Jefferson snagged an extra year thanks to some JUCO courtroom shenanigans. Suddenly, the Crimson Tide’s linebacker room turned from a ghost town into a bustling party zone.
Now, a quick reminder on defensive wizardry: Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack runs his defense like a quirky game show, featuring two bona fide linebackers (the “mike” and the “sting”) and one unpredictable “Wolf.” Picture it as a three-man band where the Wolf sometimes plays jazz and sometimes rock ‘n’ roll—lining up behind the scrimmage line, waiting to steal the spotlight.
If the offense shows up with a tight end on that side, the Wolf swaps his jazz shoes for some 3-4 under dance moves, shifting with the other three linemen like they’re doing a last-minute cha-cha. Without a tight end? The Wolf might just bolt for the edge or freestyle his way through the gaps, kind of like a linebacker version of an impromptu street performance. This isn’t exactly a pre-planned stunt—it’s more like a surprise flash mob at the B-gap blitz.
For now, I’m shelving the edge rushers (our wild Wolf prototypes) to focus on the traditional, in-the-middle linebackers next week. I’ll be referencing the trusty 247Sports Composite rankings, with a nod if other recruiting gurus have an opinion that’s as off-beat as a polka remix.
Leave a Reply