Built on dominant defenses throughout its existence, Alabama football leans on the hard-nosed play of top-notch, physical, intimidating linebackers. Alabama linebackers litter All-American teams throughout the past century. The lineage of linebackers under Nick Saban at Alabama is historic. He has rarely whiffed in recruiting at this position. A few of the alpha dogs are Rolando McClain, CJ Mosley, Reuben Foster, Courtney Upshaw, Reggie Ragland, and Donta Hightower.
As teams began running more hurry-up no-huddle offenses, Alabama had to adjust from big run thumpers to leaner, faster and mobile backers. Injuries have ravaged the linebacker corps the past two seasons, robbing the group of reaching its mass potential.