Latest news with #DeontaeLawson
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alabama football's best, most promising, most underrated players and more for 2025
Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer enters his second season at the Crimson Tide helm with plenty of new faces in starting roles, beginning at the all-important quarterback position. It's a critical juncture for both coach and program, as UA comes off a 2024 failure to reach a 12-team College Football Playoff field, and its first season of four-plus losses since 2007. Who on this roster can Alabama rely on most? And who does it most need to emerge? Here's a look at some of the key players approaching fall practice, and why their performance is so important: Alabama's most valuable player: OT Kadyn Proctor Is the junior the best player on the Crimson Tide roster? I don't think so, but he's the most valuable because he's the one it can least afford to lose to an injury. Several Alabama teams in recent years have proven that an offense can't function consistently with only one high-quality offensive tackle. Lose Proctor, and it's conceivable this team won't have any. Advertisement Alabama's best senior: LB Deontae Lawson The lone returning team captain from last season, Lawson has something to prove to NFL scouts after a knee injury ended his season in Week 13 against Oklahoma. It's a lot to assume he won't have some rust to shake off, but when he's healthy, Lawson is outstanding. ROSTER UPDATES: Alabama football updates 2025 roster. Here's what you need to know LIVE UPDATES: SEC football media days: Live updates from Day 1, headlined by LSU, Ole Miss Alabama's best junior: C Parker Brailsford Entering his second year as a starter, Brailsford was highly effective as a transfer from Washington last season. He's got All-SEC potential and is a perfect fit for a Ryan Grubb offense in which he's already got game experience. Advertisement Alabama's best sophomore: WR Ryan Williams After a spectacular freshman season that could have been even better with more consistent pass protection and quarterback play, Williams' place as UA's most dynamic talent is undisputed. For his encore performance, he'll see some action in the slot position. Alabama's most improved player: DL Jeremiah Beaman Spring practice observers raved about the move Beaman made up the depth chart, and it comes none too soon. The Crimson Tide hasn't had a truly dominant interior defensive lineman since Christian Barmore in 2020. He doesn't have to be Barmore to make a big contribution, but if he were to have a true breakout season, this defense could be suffocating. Advertisement Alabama player with the most to prove: QB Ty Simpson Who else but a (presumed) new starter at quarterback who's been around for four years and four offensive coordinators? The forward to this book reads like Mac Jones' career path, but Simpson still has to write all the chapters. Runners-up to Simpson for this nod include DL James Smith, WR Jaylen Mbakwe, OT Wilkin Formby, and DE LT Overton. Alabama's most underrated player: TE Josh Cuevas Although an injury caused Cuevas to miss the back end of spring drills, those close to the program don't believe Alabama will miss a beat with Cuevas rising from third-team status in 2024 to first team in 2025. He's added some size to improve his blocking, but he's more of a downfield receiving threat than either of his predecessors, CJ Dippre and Robbie Ouzts. Advertisement Alabama's most promising transfer: LB Nikhai Hill-Green In the absence of NFL first-round draft pick Jihaad Campbell, Alabama needed a third reliable inside linebacker who can rotate with the aforementioned Lawson, and returning senior Justin Jefferson. Enter Hill-Green, who made 82 stops — 12 of them for losses — at Colorado last year. He should see plenty of action, especially on early downs. Alabama's most promising freshman: CB Dijon Lee There are few things more exciting to a defensive coordinator than a cornerback who stands 6-foot-4 and has all the quickness of a smaller guy. That's what the Crimson Tide saw in Lee, a 5-star recruit, in spring practice. Freshman QB Keelon Russell could have this distinction in time, but for immediate, 2025 impact (including on special teams), Lee is the one to watch. Tuscaloosa News sport columnist Chase Goodbread. Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at cgoodbread@ Follow on @chasegoodbread. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football's best, most promising, most underrated players
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Two Alabama players named to 2025 Lott IMPACT Trophy preseason watch list
Announced on Wednesday, a pair of Alabama Crimson Tide defensive players have been named to the preseason watch list for the Lott IMPACT Trophy. Those two players were the returning duo of LT Overton and Deontae Lawson, both of which were among the 42 total names across college football named to the 2025 preseason watch list. Advertisement Overton, a defensive lineman, transferred to Alabama from Texas A&M a year ago where he had a career-year with the Crimson Tide. Across 13 games played, Overton posted a career-high 42 tackles with three TFL and two sacks, and could easily surpass those totals in 2025. As for Lawson, the inside linebacker is a returning team caption who is entering his fourth season as a starter with the Crimson Tide. Lawson is also coming off a career-year in 2024, one that was shortened by injury, where he had 76 tackles, seven TFL, two sacks, and an interception across 11 games played. Alabama has won the Lott IMPACT Trophy, which recognizes the top defensive player in college football, only two times ever, which came in 2005 (DeMeco Ryans) and 2022 (Will Anderson Jr.). Last season's winner was Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama's LT Overton, Deontae Lawson named to Lott Trophy watch list
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL Draft Summer Scouting Report: Deontae Lawson, LB, Alabama
NFL Draft Summer Scouting Report: Deontae Lawson, LB, Alabama Player Information Player: Deontae Lawson School: Alabama Height/Weight: 6-2/229 lbs. Player Background - 4-Star recruit - All-American Bowl selection in High School - Played basketball in High School - No. 3 linebacker in the 2021 recruiting class Career Stats Heading into the 2025 Season - 194 Total tackles - 16 Tackles for a loss - 5 Sacks - 12 Pass Deflections Notable PFF Numbers Heading into the 2025 Season - 70.3 PFF Run Grade - 59.5 PFF Pass Cov. Grade - 13% Missed tackle - 102 Defensive stops Player Traits - Good instincts and awareness to make plays - Plugs running lanes consistently - Underrated pass rush ability - Reliable in pass coverage - Quick reactions and reflexes to adjust to the play Player Summary Jihaad Campbell led the middle of the Alabama offense in 2024, but with him now in the NFL, that responsibility will fall on Lawson in 2025. In 2024, Lawson mostly played outside and was used in coverage assignments, as well as some pass rush sets in rare occurrences. He also did a good job of filling running lanes when they would go outside, directing the running back inside where a mob of defenders was always waiting for them. While it doesn't appear in the boxscore, those instincts will pop on film when his role expands in 2025.
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL Draft Summer Scouting Report: Deontae Lawson, LB, Alabama
NFL Draft Summer Scouting Report: Deontae Lawson, LB, Alabama Player Information Player: Deontae Lawson School: Alabama Height/Weight: 6-2/229 lbs. Player Background - 4-Star recruit - All-American Bowl selection in High School - Played basketball in High School - No. 3 linebacker in the 2021 recruiting class Career Stats Heading into the 2025 Season - 194 Total tackles - 16 Tackles for a loss - 5 Sacks - 12 Pass Deflections Notable PFF Numbers Heading into the 2025 Season - 70.3 PFF Run Grade - 59.5 PFF Pass Cov. Grade - 13% Missed tackle - 102 Defensive stops Player Traits - Good instincts and awareness to make plays - Plugs running lanes consistently - Underrated pass rush ability - Reliable in pass coverage - Quick reactions and reflexes to adjust to the play Player Summary Jihaad Campbell led the middle of the Alabama offense in 2024, but with him now in the NFL, that responsibility will fall on Lawson in 2025. In 2024, Lawson mostly played outside and was used in coverage assignments, as well as some pass rush sets in rare occurrences. He also did a good job of filling running lanes when they would go outside, directing the running back inside where a mob of defenders was always waiting for them. While it doesn't appear in the boxscore, those instincts will pop on film when his role expands in 2025.
USA Today
08-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Who do Jacksonville Jaguars pick in way-too-early 3-round 2026 NFL mock draft?
Who do Jacksonville Jaguars pick in way-too-early 3-round 2026 NFL mock draft? Who did the Jacksonville Jaguars select in this way-too-early 2026 three-round NFL mock draft from Pro Football Network? Who did the Jacksonville Jaguars select in this way-too-early 2026 three-round NFL mock draft from Pro Football Network? After trading up for Travis Hunter in this year's draft, the Jaguars do not have a first-round selection in 2026. However, as we detailed recently, they still have several valuable early-round picks after a Day 2 trade with Detroit, and with that comes some flexibility. Now, when it comes to mock drafts this far out, it's not really about getting the projection right--that's a nearly impossible task, especially in a multi-round mock--but more so, this exercise can help identify some 2026 draft prospects to know for the upcoming college football season. Let's go through and highlight each of the Jaguars' selections. Of note, the draft order was determined by PFSN's mock draft simulator. Round 2, pick 40: Deontae Lawson, LB, Alabama Lawson was one of PFF's higher-graded run defenders at linebacker in 2024 and also recorded 12 pressures as a blitzer. In coverage, he held opponents to 8.4 yards per catch with one interception and four pass breakups. As of now, Devin Lloyd is set to be a free agent in 2026. Round 3, pick 72: Taurean York, LB, Texas A&M Back-to-back linebacker picks? With Lloyd a free agent and Foyesade Oluokun entering his age-30 season, perhaps this could be a position we see the Jaguars prioritize. York recorded 21 pressures last season and has been a reliable tackler in his career. He forced two pass breakups and one interception in coverage, allowing 10.6 yards per catch. Round 3, pick 93: Lawson Luckie, TE, Georgia Both Hunter Long and Johnny Mundt signed two-year free agent deals this offseason, which means in 2026, they'll already be in the final year of those contracts. Luckie averaged 14.5 yards per catch in 2024 on 24 receptions, with most of his snaps coming from the slot. In Liam Coen's offense, blocking ability at this position is vital. Round 3, pick 97: Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State Wheatley was one of PFF's top graded run defenders last season at the safety position. In coverage, he allowed a completion rate of 62% at 11.0 yards per catch and had solid ball production with three interceptions and four pass breakups.
