🏈 The Van de Graaff Projected Defensive starters for Bama 2025

[Kirk Van de Graaff]

DT
Starters: Tim Keenan III (Redshirt Senior), James Smith (Junior)

Back Ups
Edric Hill (Redshirt Sophomore), Jeremiah Beaman (Redshirt Freshman), Isaia Faga (Redshirt Freshman), Steve Mboumoua (Freshman), London Simmons (Freshman)
** Hill and Beaman getting good reviews from coaches..

BANDIT DEFENSIVE END

Starters: Top Two--- LT Overton (Senior), Jordan Renaud (Redshirt Sophomore)

Backups: Keon Keeley (Redshirt Sophomore), Kelby Collins (Junior), Fatutoa Henry

**** Keeley would be next in line is my thoughts and Collins is working at both DT and Bandit

Wolf- Outside LB
Qua Russaw (Redshirt Sophomore) Jah-Marien Latham (Graduate Student)

Back-ups Yhonzae Pierre (Redshirt Sophomore), Noah Carter (Redshirt Freshman), Justin Hill (Freshman), Kevonte Henry (Freshman)

***** Pierre seems like the next in line

Inside LB
Starter-
Mike-
Deontae Lawson (Redshirt Senior),
Sting-
Justin Jefferson (Graduate Student)

Back-ups-
Nikhai Hill-Green (Graduate Student), Cayden Jones (Sophomore), QB Reese (Redshirt Freshman), Darrell Johnson (Freshman), Luke Metz (Freshman), Abduall Sanders Jr. (Freshman)

*** Reese is turning heads

Cornerback-
Domani Jackson (Senior), Zabien Brown (Sophomore)

Cameron Calhoun (Redshirt Sophomore), Jaylen Mbakwe (Sophomore)(Has moved from cb to wr, have him here for the moment will change when concrete), Red Morgan (Sophomore), Dijon Lee (Freshman), Chuck McDonald (Freshman)

****Morgan moved back and forth from CB to Safety. I put him here, seems like the odd man out really but his versatility might be a saving grace for him

Husky
DaShawn Jones (Redshirt Senior) Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. (Sophomore),

Safety
Keon Sabb (Redshirt Junior), Bray Hubbard (Junior)

Zavier Mincey (Sophomore), Ivan Taylor (Freshman), Kameron Howard (Redshirt Sophomore)


Feel free to enter your thoughts, Just my leanings on things and means nothing but to have discussion.

Disclaimer- I know jackshit and have no inside person that tells me anything, but I can make a mean cup of Coffee.
Disclaimer 2: Kirk Van de Graaff is a homer and really likes having a Dre Kirkpatrick II on the roster, he will be watching his progression closely

 

[Justneedme81]

Few things:
Jaylen Mbakwe moved from cb to wr. I don't know if he's playing both ways in the fall. We haven't heard much from him.

DT- I think you got this right
DE- i don't think that's not right. I would expect players to rotate. I don't see this position as who's starting or backup, but more of who's gonna be in rotation and who's not.

ILB- position is set. I'm curious to how they will implement Justin Jefferson.

OLB-

 

[Kirk Van de Graaff]

Few things:
Jaylen Mbakwe moved from cb to wr. I don't know if he's playing both ways in the fall. We haven't heard much from him.

DT- I think you got this right
DE- i don't think that's not right. I would expect players to rotate. I don't see this position as who's starting or backup, but more of who's gonna be in rotation and who's not.

ILB- position is set. I'm curious to how they will implement Justin Jefferson.

OLB-

I want to see Dre Kirkpatrick II play, I am a homer and can't wait to follow his progression.

As far as the other line-ups, lot of shuffling going on and the summer will tell for sure where all stand. I have no problems with you changing things by the way.

 

[TerryP]

Wolf- Outside LB
Qua Russaw (Redshirt Sophomore)

Back-ups Yhonzae Pierre (Redshirt Sophomore), Noah Carter (Redshirt Freshman), Justin Hill (Freshman), Kevonte Henry (Freshman)

***** Pierre seems like the next in line

Jah-Marien Latham

 

[Kirk Van de Graaff]

Jah-Marien Latham

OOOOPS, LOL TY bro

 

[TerryP]

OLB-

Lost me here. That's WOLF, Qua.

 

[Justneedme81]

Lost me here. That's WOLF, Qua.

I meant to delete that. I had no comment on that lol.

 

[TerryP]

@Kirk Van de Graaff you don't have a "STING." See Jihaad.

@Justneedme81

MIKE: Lawson
STING: Jefferson (some would call it a pseudo WILL.)

 

[Kirk Van de Graaff]

@Kirk Van de Graaff you don't have a "STING." See Jihaad.

@Justneedme81

MIKE: Lawson
STING: Jefferson (some would call it a pseudo WILL.)

So many names I gave up. LOL

 

[Justneedme81]

@Kirk Van de Graaff you don't have a "STING." See Jihaad.

@Justneedme81

MIKE: Lawson
STING: Jefferson (some would call it a pseudo WILL.)

That makes sense. Campbell was the sting lb last year.

 

[TerryP]

Husky
DaShawn Jones (Redshirt Senior) Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. (Sophomore),

Safety
Keon Sabb (Redshirt Junior), Bray Hubbard (Junior)

Zavier Mincey (Sophomore), Ivan Taylor (Freshman), Kameron Howard (Redshirt Sophomore)

We're sorta gettin' into the weeds here.

Sabb played what I considered to be Wommack's ROVER position last season. That would leave Hubbard as the S.

HUSKY is basically a nickel. I'm leaving this one, with the rest of the defensive backfield, to anyone's guess. They rotated A LOT last year and I expect the same this year.

The one thing I can say about the defensive backs with confidence. There are some "dudes" back here: athletes. And, they are 'long.'

Personally, I look at the DB's just like I do the WR's. I don't know how the rotation is going to shake out. I do believe they'll be one of the top groups in the nation. (I'm more concerned with stopping the run.)

 

[TerryP]

So many names I gave up. LOL

It took me half the season last year and I still have to stop and think for a minute. I know where they are; what you call it?

 

[Kirk Van de Graaff]

It took me half the season last year and I still have to stop and think for a minute. I know where they are; what you call it?

Yeah me too, I was just getting use to Sabans names. LMAO

 

[TerryP]

Yeah me too, I was just getting use to Sabans names. LMAO

This is one of the big reasons I hated the move from CBS on Saturday's. I wanted to watch the ALL-22 to get a better feel/view of how they played. "No mas" as they say.

 

[Kirk Van de Graaff]

We're sorta gettin' into the weeds here.

Sabb played what I considered to be Wommack's ROVER position last season. That would leave Hubbard as the S.

HUSKY is basically a nickel. I'm leaving this one, with the rest of the defensive backfield, to anyone's guess. They rotated A LOT last year and I expect the same this year.

The one thing I can say about the defensive backs with confidence. There are some "dudes" back here: athletes. And, they are 'long.'

Personally, I look at the DB's just like I do the WR's. I don't know how the rotation is going to shake out. I do believe they'll be one of the top groups in the nation. (I'm more concerned with stopping the run.)

I was going to split the rover position and safety, but I figured most would get the idea.

 

[Kirk Van de Graaff]

This is one of the big reasons I hated the move from CBS on Saturday's. I wanted to watch the ALL-22 to get a better feel/view of how they played. "No mas" as they say.

I looked on the University site for it, no avail, so I left it alone.

 

[Kirk Van de Graaff]

Few things:
Jaylen Mbakwe moved from cb to wr. I don't know if he's playing both ways in the fall. We haven't heard much from him.

DT- I think you got this right
DE- i don't think that's not right. I would expect players to rotate. I don't see this position as who's starting or backup, but more of who's gonna be in rotation and who's not.

ILB- position is set. I'm curious to how they will implement Justin Jefferson.

OLB-

I put in a disclaimer for it. TY

 

[BamaFan334]

Few things:
Jaylen Mbakwe moved from cb to wr. I don't know if he's playing both ways in the fall. We haven't heard much from him.

DT- I think you got this right
DE- i don't think that's not right. I would expect players to rotate. I don't see this position as who's starting or backup, but more of who's gonna be in rotation and who's not.

ILB- position is set. I'm curious to how they will implement Justin Jefferson.

OLB-

Possible we see Jefferson at Outside Backer?

 

[Justneedme81]

@Kirk Van de Graaff you don't have a "STING." See Jihaad.

@Justneedme81

MIKE: Lawson
STING: Jefferson (some would call it a pseudo WILL.)

Good one

 

[TerryP]

I looked on the University site for it, no avail, so I left it alone.

If tradition holds (it will) come next month I'll find a moment and end up watching games from last season. It took a minute to understand what Saban wanted out of the JACK. Here, with Wommack, as well. I can't think of the name of the DC who used a ROVER in Columbia for several years with UofSC. So, I got a little "grasp" on the position but still want to watch more.