Alabama football needs to shore up a couple of positions defensively to be an elite group.
Nose tackle is a spot where the Crimson Tide has to find a dominant player. Nick Saban produced Da’Ron Payne, Quinnen Williams, Jesse Williams, Terrence Cody, Marcell Dareus, and Christian Barmore. Most of them became first-round picks in their respective NFL Draft classes, but Tide fans want to see a new force emerge. DJ Dale returns with experience at nose tackle, but fans want to see what Tim Smith, Jamil Burroughs, or Jah-Marien Latham becomes. Jaheim Oatis, a freshman, has performed well in spring practice.