Tag: Deontae Lawson

Alabama starting linebacker to miss remainder of 2024 season

One of Alabama’s top players will miss the remainder of the season.

After leaving the Oklahoma game with an injury Saturday night, it has been confirmed that starting Alabama Crimson Tide inside linebacker Deontae Lawson will now miss the remainder of the 2024 season.

The news of Lawson missing the remainder of the season was reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel early Monday afternoon, and then confirmed by head coach Kalen DeBoer during his weekly press conference later in the day.

“We’ll lose him for the season with a season-ending injury,” DeBoer said. “Just an amazing leader. Chosen team captain by the team. I can see not just what he means to us on the field, but the love that our players have for him, especially those that have been through multiple years. Seeing what he pours into it, I know we all feel for him. We appreciate everything he’s been doing, and obviously you greatly miss what he does on the football field, but love having that guy in the locker room leading your team.”

Lawson, a multi-year starter at inside linebacker, was in the midst of a career-year with the Crimson Tide, holding a combined 76 tackles, seven TFL, two sacks, one INT, four PD, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery across 11 games.

In the absence of Lawson, the duo of Jihaad Campbell and Justin Jefferson will now start at inside linebacker this upcoming Saturday against Auburn.

Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack also commented on the loss of Lawson as well, as well as who will takeover the communication on the field in his place.

“When you lose a guy that really is your steady maker in the box, and does such a great job with the green dot communication, is such a leader for our guys, and a great communicator on the field, that’s tough,” Wommack said. “That’s a tough loss for sure, but I think our guys stepped up. Justin Jefferson stepped up in the second half, and really did a good job going in and playing the stinger, weak-side position for us. We’ve got some young guys that I think are trending in the right direction right now with Jeremiah Alexander, Justin Okoronkwo, and Cayden Jones, those guys are doing a nice job to where they’re obviously going to have to continue that, and this week is going to be really important. Like everybody, you’re going to have some of these injuries that you have to deal with, and it has to be a next-man-up mentality, and I think our guys have the right mindset in terms of what they’re required to do on game day.”

“Justin Jefferson has been doing that all season as kind of our No. 2 there at that position, and has done a really great job,” Wommack added. “Obviously Jihaad can do it, it’s just Jihaad plays so many different positions for us that it’s hard when a guys moving around like that for him to be the green dot communication. We have two guys that certainly can handle it, but it’s Justin will take the majority of that responsibility this week.”

Kalen DeBoer gives injury update on Deontae Lawson

The Alabama linebacker exited Saturday’s game due to an injury.

In the midst of the Alabama Crimson Tide’s road loss against the Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday night, the team lost one of its’ most prominent names defensively early in the game in starting inside linebacker Deontae Lawson.

Lawson exited the game due to an injury in the first half against Oklahoma, and would not return to the game for the Crimson Tide defense.

A big loss for the Crimson Tide, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer also commented on the injury to Lawson as part of his postgame press conference Saturday night, saying of a potential update on the linebacker:

“It’s going to be a lower extremity injury,” DeBoer said. “We’ll evaluate further when we get back.”

In addition to this, DeBoer also commented on what the absence of Lawson meant for the Alabama defense Saturday night, as well as some challenges that it presented the Crimson Tide.

“Any time you lose a great player like Deontae, it’s going to affect you,” DeBoer said. “His leadership, he is the guy who makes a lot of the calls on the football field. It just seems like he’s always in control. We have trust and belief in the guys that come in with JJ (Justin Jefferson), and those guys take a lot of reps, and he’s played a lot this year too. Any time any of your captains or top players, it’s going to hurt your demeanor emotionally, but also the execution on the field.”

DeBoer’s next press conference will come Monday afternoon, which is where we are likely to hear the next update surrounding the injury status of Lawson.

Chiefs scouting report: Alabama Crimson Tide LB Deontae Lawson

Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Deontae Lawson could be a target for the Kansas City #Chiefs in the 2025 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs have three quality linebackers, but Nick Bolton’s rookie contract expires after this season. Considering some of the team’s current large contracts and important players heading to free agency in 2026, Kansas City should look into selecting a linebacker in the 2025 NFL draft.

Crimson Tide linebacker Lawson wears the green dot for Alabama’s defense because of his high football IQ and communication skills. He defeats climbing linemen in the run game with several moves, including swims and swipes. His burst helps him beat offensive linemen to their landmarks in the run game.

Lawson sometimes overcommits and fits the wrong gap as a run defender, but he usually remains patient at the second level and triggers once he finds the right gap. Unlike his teammate, Jihaad Campbell, Lawson lacks the arm length and power to shed blocks quickly, so he relies on his speed to defeat blockers.

Lawson excels in short to intermediate zone coverages. He recognizes and anticipates routes and reads the quarterback’s eyes to undercut throwing lanes. Lawson reads and reacts to throws quickly, leading to pass breakups. He projects as a fourth-round selection in the upcoming draft.

Alabama travels to Neyland Stadium this Saturday to face No. 11 Tennessee at 2:30 p.m. The Crimson Tide lost 52-49 the last time they went on the road to face the Volunteers.

Alabama lands 14 players on 2024 Preseason Coaches All-SEC Team

Alabama lands 14 total on 2024 Preseason All-SEC Team.

Released on Thursday afternoon, the Alabama Crimson Tide landed a total of 14 players on the 2024 Preseason Coaches All-SEC Team, which ranked as the second-most of any team across the conference. Alabama also had four different First Team selections, which ranked second in the SEC.

The Crimson Tide’s 14 selections trailed only the Georgia Bulldogs, who had 15 total players selected.

Those players selected, as well as what respective team each was named to, are as follows:

  • First Team: OL Tyler Booker, LB Deontae Lawson, DB Malachi Moore, P James Burnip
  • Second Team: OL Kadyn Proctor, C Parker Brailsford, DL Tim Smith, PK Graham Nicholson, LS Kneeland Hibbett
  • Third Team: QB Jalen Milroe, RB Justice Haynes, DL Tim Keenan III, LB Jihaad Campbell, DB Domani Jackson

Of these 14 names, Hibbett was the lone member of the group named as a First Team All-SEC selection a year ago, while both Booker and Burnip were Second Team picks.

Alabama featured heavily on preseason Lombardi Award watch list

Alabama lands four players on Lombardi Award watch list.

An award that recognizes the top lineman in college football, four different Alabama Crimson Tide football players have been named to the preseason watch list for the 2024 Lombardi Award.

Those players included three offensive linemen in Tyler Booker, Parker Brailsford, and Jaeden Roberts, as well as linebacker Deontae Lawson.

Both of Booker and Roberts were Alabama’s starting offensive guards a year ago at left and right, respectively, while Brailsford, a Washington transfer, is expected to start at center this fall.

Lawson will feature at inside linebacker for the third-straight season coming off a year in which he compiled 67 tackles, 5.5 TFL, and three sacks.

It’s clear by this watch list alone that Alabama’s interior offensive line will be a massive strength for the program this fall. This should only help throughout the year as the Crimson Tide look to establish the run.

Don’t forget about Lawson either however, as the Crimson Tide should have one of the top linebackers in college football.

Alabama linebacker duo named to 2024 Butkus Award watch list

Alabama’s inside linebacker duo will be among college football’s best in 2024.

One of the top inside linebacker duos in all of college football, both Alabama Crimson Tide starters at the position – Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell – were named to the preseason watch list for the Butkus Award on Tuesday.

The Butkus Award, which Alabama has won four times before, recognizes the top linebacker annually in college football.

Lawson is entering his fourth season in Tuscaloosa this fall, as well as his third as a starting inside linebacker. The redshirt junior has a combined stat line of 118 tackles, eight TFL, and three sacks across that span, and is coming off a career-high 67 tackles with 5.5 TFL, and three sacks a year ago.

Campbell, a junior, is also coming off a career-year in which he emerged alongside Lawson as a starter. After making only one tackle as a freshman, Campbell had 66 tackles, four TFL, 0.5 sacks, one INT, and two FR a year ago.

Previous Alabama players to win the Butkus Award were Derrick Thomas (1988), Rolando McClain (2009), C.J. Mosley (2013), and Reuben Foster (2016).

Two Alabama defenders named to the Bednarik Award watch list

Bednarik Award watch list includes two Alabama defenders.

While Nick Saban was the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide he assembled some of the greatest defenses college football has ever seen. There was almost a certain level of fear and mystique playing against those teams.

Now, the Crimson Tide may be under new leadership in head coach Kalen DeBoer but don’t think for a second that means that the standard for defense is going to change.

There will be some difficulties, especially on the defensive side of the ball replacing guys like Dallas Turner, Terrion Arnold, Kool-Aid McKinstry and Chris Braswell who were all selected in the first two rounds of the 2024 NFL draft. The Alabama roster was also hit pretty hard by the transfer portal when Saban announced his retirement.

Despite the changes, there is still a ton of talent on this Alabama roster. Malachi Moore and Deontae Lawson will be the veteran leaders on this team, and they were also named to the preseason watch list for the Bednarik Award.

The Bednarik Award has been presented annually to the best defensive player in college football dating back to 1995 when Pat Fitzgerald of Northwestern won the award. Only two members of the Crimson Tide have ever won it in Jonathan Allen (2016) and Will Anderson (2022). North Carolina State’s Payton Wilson was the winner a season ago.

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Pair of Alabama defensive veterans land on Lott Impact Trophy watch list

Alabama football’s two defensive leaders earn a preseason honor!

The 2024 season will be here before we know it and the anticipation and excitement continue to build in Tuscaloosa as a new era of Alabama Crimson Tide football will get underway with Kalen DeBoer at the helm.

Some have questioned DeBoer and the Tide this offseason and have wondered if Alabama can maintain the level of success that they had for 17 seasons under the legendary [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag].

One thing that hasn’t been questioned is the leadership of this team. That includes and perhaps is headlined by a pair of defensive veterans who have recently made a preseason watch list.

On Thursday, linebacker [autotag]Deontae Lawson[/autotag] and defensive back [autotag]Malachi Moore[/autotag] were named to the 2024 Lott Impact Trophy watch list.

Lawson is entering his redshirt junior season with the Tide and was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award in 2023 as Alabama’s second-leading tackler despite missing three games. Lawson finished 2023 with 67 tackles. 5.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks.

Moore is a graduate student at Alabama and has been a mainstay in the Crimson Tide lineup since his true freshman season in 2020. Moore finished the 2023 campaign with 52 tackles, five tackles for loss, five pass breakups, and one interception.

The Lott Impact Trophy is awarded annually to the college football defensive IMPACT player of the year. IMPACT is an acronym for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, and Tenacity.

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Pre-Spring Position Preview: Breaking down the Alabama LBs

A closer look at the Alabama linebackers ahead of spring practice

Before we know it, new Alabama head football coach Kalen DeBoer will hit the practice field with his Crimson Tide players for the first time when spring practice gets underway in March.

With the retirement of the legendary Nick Saban, there have not been this many question marks surrounding the football program since 2007 when Saban took over.

Contrary to popular belief, Alabama still has one of the most talented rosters in the country and should be right in the thick of the college football playoff conversation.

Roll Tide Wire will preview each position group as the anticipation builds leading up to spring practice. Let’s take a look at the linebackers.

REPORT: Pair of Alabama defenders expected to forgo NFL, return to college

This would be MASSIVE for the Alabama defense

After a flurry of players decided to enter the transfer portal on Wednesday, it is also being reported that [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] and the Alabama Crimson Tide are expected to return a pair of defensive players who could have opted for the NFL draft.

Matt Zenitz of 247Sports reported on Wednesday evening that star linebacker Deontae Lawson and defensive lineman Tim Smith are likely to return for the 2024 season instead of entering the NFL draft.

Even after missing three games with injuries, Lawson was Alabama’s second-leading tackler on the season with 67. Smith is a valuable piece along the defensive line for Alabama and wracked up 31 tackles and two sacks as a rotational player up front for the Tide.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for coverage on portal entries and NFL draft decisions for the Crimson Tide.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on X (Twitter) @Blackwood89.