Alabama football’s defense is ready to face a massive challenge in the Rose Bowl.
The Crimson Tide will battle a Michigan team that boasts a balanced offensive attack, using the run and pass more equally than some of the SEC teams UA has played this year.
The Wolverines had two players garner Heisman Trophy votes this season, running back Blake Corum and quarterback JJ McCarthy.
Michigan is best known for its defense, but as Alabama prepares to try and shut down the UM offense in the College Football Playoff matchup on Jan. 1, here are three key players for the Crimson Tide defense.
Dallas Turner
It’s no secret what the engine behind Alabama’s defense is.
Turner was named the SEC’s defensive player of the year after the conference title game against Georgia, and provides a fearsome presence off the edge.
Turner became the Tide’s top pass-rusher this season, with Will Anderson off to the NFL. He, along with fellow edge Chris Braswell and defensive end Justin Eboigbe, have been terrorizing quarterbacks throughout the 2023 campaign.
“We just gotta bring our hard hats whenever we play them and we just gotta be the more physical team,” Turner said as Alabama began Rose Bowl practice.
“We gotta practice like that throughout the week, pick up on every single tendency that they do as an offense”
If Alabama is to stop Michigan’s balanced attack, Turner and company will need to get after McCarthy.
Caleb Downs
The true freshman safety became a key member of Alabama’s secondary in his first year in Tuscaloosa. He took over a starting role in the season-opener against Middle Tennessee State has has held on ever since.
He earned the SEC’s freshman of the year award, as voted on by the league’s coaches, and is a finalist for the Shaun Alexander Award, which goes go College Football’s top freshman.
Downs leads the Tide in tackles with 99 on the season and and intercepted two passes.
“He already knows what he needs to do as a player,” Alabama corner Kool-Aid McKinstry said of Downs. “
He’s a good player and he prepares the right way, he does everything the right way so I’d just tell him to be himself.
That’s all I’d tell him for any game or any time he asks me any question, just be yourself. I know we trust in him and we know he’s gonna do his job.”
Downs has recently taken over for McKinstry as Alabama’s top punt returner, and brought one all the way back for a touchdown against Chattanooga.
For a successful outing against Michigan, the youngster will need to continue to step up.
Deontae Lawson
With the balanced Michigan offense, defensive signal-caller and inside linebacker Deontae Lawson will play a key role.
He’ll also need to pay attention, as limiting Corum will be a major point of emphasis for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama has had solid linebacker play this season, notably from Jihaad Campbell, who stepped into the starting lineup while Lawson, as well as Trezmen Marshall, recovered from injury. Lawson is the leader of the group though, making sure the defense gets lined up correctly.
He has 61 tackles so far on the season, including 5.5 for loss. He’s also racked up three sacks.
As one of the team’s leaders, Lawson will need to come up big against Michigan.
