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The Tuscaloosa News
Alabama football linebacker Deontae Lawson to return to Crimson Tide in 2025
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Alabama football linebacker Deontae Lawson to return to Crimson Tide in 2025
A centerpiece of the Alabama football defense will be back in Tuscaloosa in 2025
Deontae Lawson , a redshirt junior linebacker out of Mobile, announced Saturday he would return to the Crimson Tide in 2025, joining linebacker Justin Jefferson and defensive lineman LT Overton .
"This program and the staff have been like a second home to me," Lawson wrote in a statement. "The opportunity I have been given to play for coach (Nick) Saban and coach (Kalen) DeBoer is a blessing. I want to finish what I started from the day I stepped foot on campus, and that includes winning a national championship.
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"While I will always have love for Mobile, Tuscaloosa has become a second home and I'm not ready to leave. I. will do everything in my power to help the 2025 group live up to the Bama Standard, and I look forward to leading this team next season."
Jihaad Campbell , Jalen Milroe and Tyler Booker have each announced their entrances into the 2025 NFL draft.
Deontae Lawson stats: How did the Alabama LB perform?
Nov 16, 2024; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Deontae Lawson (0) deflects a pass from Mercer quarterback Whitt Newbauer (8) that was intercepted by Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News
A third-year starter and permanent team captain, Lawson had his best collegiate season for the Crimson Tide in 2024.
Lawson, a third-team All-SEC member, had career highs in tackles (76) and tackles-for-loss (7). He added two sacks and four pass deflections.
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Lawson also had his first career interception in Alabama's 42-13 win against LSU , his first forced fumble in the Crimson Tide's 42-10 win against Wisconsin and his first fumble recovery in Alabama's 24-3 loss to Oklahoma .
Lawson had a season-ending lower-extremity injury against the Sooners after a tackle against Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold . He had surgery Nov. 26.
Lawson, a former four-star linebacker in the 2021 class, finished his career with 194 tackles, 16 tackles-for-loss, five sacks and 12 pass deflections.
Alabama will have a veteran group to work with at linebacker, with the return of Jefferson and the addition of Colorado linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green . Qua Russaw will also be back at Wolf.
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Alabama opens its 2025 season Aug. 30 against Florida State.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Deontae Lawson, Alabama football linebacker, to return to Tide
