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The Tuscaloosa News
What's next for Alabama football defense in 2025? What Malachi Moore, Tim Smith think
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- What's next for Alabama football defense in 2025? What Malachi Moore, Tim Smith think
MOBILE, Ala. — Tim Smith left Alabama football feeling NFL ready.
The Crimson Tide defensive lineman, a late addition to the 2025 Senior Bowl roster, said each season in Tuscaloosa allowed him to learn more and more, culminating in a 2024 season where he said he "was able to figure it out" and record a career-high 35 tackles with four tackles-for-loss and two sacks.
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Smith took a step forward in the first year under Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack's scheme. And heading into year two with Wommack at the helm, Smith expects another step forward for the Crimson Tide .
"Just continue to be relentless," Smith told the Tuscaloosa News. "I feel like we had a pretty good year this year, guys being dominant, taking the ball off of people, lots of takeaways. So I feel like they are probably going to build on that and continue to have a better year than they did this year."
In Alabama's first season with Wommack, the Crimson Tide had the No. 21 total defense in college football, allowing just over 320 yards per game. Alabama also had a top-10 scoring defense, generating a reputation as one of the top ball-hawking, takeaway-creating units nationally.
Nov 30, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Malachi Moore (13) comes to the field with roses for his mother as seniors are honored during the pregame festivigies at the Iron Bowl game between Alabama and Auburn at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama defeated Auburn 28-14. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images
Malachi Moore may not be a part of Alabama's defense anymore, playing his last snaps at safety for the Crimson Tide in its Iron Bowl win against Auburn Nov. 30.
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But, as Moore recovers from a lower-body injury, as he pursues the transition from the Crimson Tide to the NFL, he knows the narrative. He sees a unit with experience on its side.
"When you look at any championship team, they always have a lot of experience," Moore said. "Experience is something you can't really coach or teach. Guys just have to be there and play through it."
Alabama has that heading into 2025, from Tim Keenan III and LT Overton on the defensive line and Jah-Marien Latham at Wolf, to Domani Jackson and Keon Sabb in the secondary, to Deontae Lawson , the "signal caller," Moore called him.
"The defense should definitely come back with some vengeance, and I know those guys are hungry," Moore said.
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Smith said he's expecting big things from Overton, the former Texas A&M transfer who split time at Bandit with Latham in 2024.
"It's huge to have somebody who competes at his level, who is able to rush the passer no matter what," Smith said. "Kind of picked up a couple of moves from him this offseason. Definitely going to be huge for them."
Experience will help Moore said. But the former Alabama safety also said he expects a Crimson Tide unit that is more on the same page, hearing that Wommack plans for more "whole defensive meetings" so each player knows "everybody's job and why you're doing it."
Moore doesn't expect a brand new mentality for the Alabama defense.
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It's always been "next man up," watching Crimson Tide players prepare as if they were starting and ready to perform.
But in year two, not only with Wommack, but under the leadership of Kalen DeBoer , without the weight of a coaching transition over the program, Moore expects big things in 2025.
"I believe in coach DeBoer and what he's doing with the program," Moore said. "I feel like they are going to get right back to it next year."
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: What's next for 2025 Alabama defense? What Malachi Moore, Tim Smith think
