Here’s How Alabama’s Defensive Tacklers Are Preparing for Fall Camp

Alabama football has a ton of experience on the defensive line returning for the 2024 season.

The Crimson Tide returns seven interior defensive linemen from the 2023 draft and brings back two prospects from the 2024 recruiting cycle. It lost four 2023 draft picks during the offseason: Justin Eboigbe (NFL Draft), Isaiah Hastings (transfer to Syracuse), Anquin Barnes (transfer to Colorado) and Monkell Goodwine (transfer to South Carolina).

Alabama also retained defensive line coach Freddie Roach from Nick Saban’s staff to that of coach Kalen DeBoer. Under DeBoer, Roach will lead Alabama’s defensive line under new defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, while also earning the role of associate head coach.

Here’s what Alabama’s defensive tackle room looks like heading into fall camp. Every scholarship player and notable walk-on is named:

Alabama Football’s Options at Defensive Tackle

Projected starters: Tim Keenan III, R-Jr.; Tim Smith, gr.

Reserves:.Jehiem Oatis, Jr.; Damon Payne Jr., r-jr.; James Smith, so.; Edric Hill, r-fr.; Hunter Osborne, R-Fr.; Jeremiah Beaman, Fr.; Isaia Faga, Fr.

Keenan III is coming off a redshirt sophomore season in which he earned the starting spot at nose tackle. The 6-foot-2, 315-pound Keenan III finished the season with 38 total tackles, 1.5 for loss, one sack, seven quarterback hurries and a pass breakup.

Smith played in all 14 games for the Crimson Tide in 2023, starting 10 times. On the season, Smith had 31 tackles, two sacks and a quarterback hurry. As a graduate, Smith brings by far the most experienced interior defensive lineman for the Crimson Tide.

Oats appeared in 13 games for the Crimson Tide last season with three starts, finishing with 26 total tackles, including one for loss, along with half a sack, two quarterback hurries and two pass breakups. He was also named to the 2023 Outland Trophy Watch List, which is presented annually to the best interior lineman in the nation.

Payne Jr. played in all 14 games for Alabama in 2024 in limited snaps. He finished the season with nine stops, one tackle for loss and half a sack. Smith played in nine games during his first season in Tuscaloosa, totaling two tackles and a fumble recovery.

Hill played in two games during his freshman season with one tackle, while Osborne saw no action. Faga and Beaman come to Tuscaloosa as three- and four-star prospects, respectively, according to the 247Sports Composite. They were part of an Alabama recruiting class that was ranked No. 2 in the nation.

The positive side

Roach returning to coach the defensive line is huge for the Crimson Tide. He is the second coach, joining associate head coach/running backs coach Robert Gillespie, to remain on the staff following the coaching transition from Saban to DeBoer.

This year marks Roach’s fifth year leading Alabama’s defensive line, having served in the same role for three seasons at Ole Miss before coming to Tuscaloosa. He has coached these Crimson Tide players for years, recruiting most of them out of high school.

Roach led Alabama’s defensive line to one of its most effective in recent memory last season. Alabama’s defense ranked 16th in the NCAA in scoring defense, averaging 19 points per game.

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One question or concern

Now that Alabama has all of its experience back, it has the potential to create a very strong defensive line.

The question, however, is how the Crimson Tide will utilize its rotation.

With Eboigbe being drafted in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Chargers, Alabama will lose most of its production from last season along its defensive line. In total, Eboigbe played 657 snaps last year. Behind Eboigbe, however, were Keenan III (497 snaps) and Smith (391 snaps).

The Crimson Tide brings a lot of experience and production back from 2023, but it will be interesting to see how they deploy that in the fall.

Candidate for an outbreak

Oats, who was named to the Outland Trophy Watch List after last season, is poised for a breakthrough junior season.

Oats worked hard to make an impact on the team in his first season in 2022, which he succeeded in doing, and expanded that role even further last season.

According to the UA website, the junior is 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds. He was a five-star prospect while a student at Columbia High School in Columbia, Mississippi.