Position Breakdown: Alabama’s DL ahead of spring practice
We are now just a few weeks out from Nick Saban and the Alabama football team taking the practice field to begin spring ball.
As is the case each offseason, there are many questions that need to be answered before the Tide hit the field to start the 2023 season.
As spring practice creeps closer, we are going to break down each position group on both sides of the ball. We have already looked at the quarterback room and today we will turn our attention to the defensive side of the ball and look at the interior of the Alabama defensive line.
The defensive line is losing some key pieces from the 2022 season and the competition for playing time will be fierce.
Let’s dive right in!
Notable departures
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Byron Young | DJ Dale
Alabama will look to replace the veteran presence of both Byron Young and DJ Dale. Young and Dale both put together solid careers for the Tide and will likely be selected in April’s NFL draft.
Notable returning players
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Jaheim Oatis | Justin Eboigbe | Tim Smith
Jaheim Oatis, Justin Eboigbe, and Tim Smith are set to return for the 2023 season and each player brings ligament SEC experience to the lineup. Oatis cut his teeth during the 2022 campaign as a true freshman while Eboigbe and Smith will bring a veteran presence to the position.
Alabama also returns players such as Damon Payne Jr., Anquin Barnes Jr., Jah-Marien Latham, Monkell Goodwin, Tim Keenan III, Khurtiss Perry, Jamil Burroughs, and Isaiah Hastings to the defensive line room.
New faces
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James Smith | Edric Hill | Hunter Osborne | Jordan Renaud
Alabama signed four talented defensive linemen from the class of 2023 and all will be participating in the spring ball. James Smith is the most highly touted of the bunch and has the potential to make an instant impact for the Tide.
What to watch for
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Justin Eboigbe’s health
Justin Eboigbe was Alabama’s most impactful interior defensive lineman during the early portion of the 2022 season before a neck injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Eboigbe’s health is definitely something to monitor as spring ball approaches.
Projected starters
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Tim Smith | Jaheim Oatis | Justin Eboigbe
Alabama is known for the number of players they rotate in along the defensive line but I am confident that Smith, Oatis, and Eboigbe will be the first group up. After that, Alabama will routinely roll out at least an additional six players.
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