The Crimson Tide’s defensive line, which was added to the 2025 Senior Bowl roster late, reflected on his growth during his time at Tuscaloosa, noting that each season helped him learn and improve. He highlighted his 2024 season as a breakthrough, stating he “was able to figure it out” and posted a career-high 35 tackles, along with four tackles-for-loss and two sacks.
Smith made significant strides in his first year under Alabama’s defensive coordinator Kane Wommack. As he enters his second year with Wommack, Smith anticipates further progress for the Crimson Tide.
“Just continue to be relentless,” Smith shared with the Tuscaloosa News. “I feel like we had a pretty good year this year, guys being dominant, taking the ball off of people, lots of takeaways. So I feel like they are probably going to build on that and continue to have a better year than they did this year.”
In Wommack’s first season, Alabama boasted the No. 21 total defense in college football, allowing just over 320 yards per game. The Crimson Tide also ranked in the top 10 for scoring defense, earning a reputation as one of the best ball-hawking, takeaway-generating units in the nation.
Though Malachi Moore is no longer part of Alabama’s defense, having played his final snaps at safety during the team’s Iron Bowl win over Auburn on November 30, he remains focused on his transition to the NFL. He also recognizes the importance of experience in building a successful defense.
“When you look at any championship team, they always have a lot of experience,” Moore said. “Experience is something you can’t really coach or teach. Guys just have to be there and play through it.”
Heading into 2025, Alabama’s defense is full of experienced players, including Tim Keenan III and LT Overton on the defensive line, Jah-Marien Latham at Wolf, Domani Jackson and Keon Sabb in the secondary, and Deontae Lawson, whom Moore described as the “signal caller.”
“The defense should definitely come back with some vengeance, and I know those guys are hungry,” Moore added.
Smith expressed high expectations for Overton, the former Texas A&M transfer who split time at Bandit with Latham in 2024.
“It’s huge to have somebody who competes at his level, who is able to rush the passer no matter what,” Smith said. “Kind of picked up a couple of moves from him this offseason. Definitely going to be huge for them.”
Moore believes that experience will be valuable, but also mentioned that the defense is set to be more cohesive. He noted that Wommack plans for more “whole defensive meetings” so that every player understands “everybody’s job and why you’re doing it.”
Moore does not anticipate a completely new mentality for the Alabama defense. The “next man up” mentality has always been in place, with players preparing as if they were starters, ready to perform at any time. But in 2025, with Wommack entering his second year and Kalen DeBoer now leading the program without the weight of a coaching transition, Moore expects significant success.
“I believe in coach DeBoer and what he’s doing with the program,” Moore said. “I feel like they are going to get right back to it next year.”
