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Alabama Football: 5 potential breakout candidates for spring 2019

By John Mitchell

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - NOVEMBER 03: Brian Robinson Jr. #24 and Kyriq McDonald #26 of the Alabama Crimson Tide take the field prior to their game against the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium on November 03, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - NOVEMBER 03: Brian Robinson Jr. #24 and Kyriq McDonald #26 of the Alabama Crimson Tide take the field prior to their game against the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium on November 03, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

1. Ale Kaho (ILB/Sophomore)

Alabama looked set at inside linebacker next season with the thought that Mack Wilson would be returning to Tuscaloosa for his senior season, but he unexpectedly declared for the draft, leaving a hole in the middle of the defense.

Regardless of your feelings on Wilson’s performance last season, and he certainly didn’t take the step that many expected, he was the signal caller in the middle and that leaves a void, particularly with a lack of experience behind last season’s starters. Junior Dylan Moses will slide into Wilson’s spot as the signal caller of the defense, but there isn’t a lot of experience behind him.

Sophomore Ale Kaho was Moses’ backup last season, so he’s the most likely candidate to slide into the starting role. Kaho was a late addition to the Crimson Tide last season after originally signing with Washington out of high school. The former four-star prospect departed Seattle and joined Alabama in the summer, immediately providing much needed depth in the middle of the defense.

Kaho was a key special teams contributor last season, and he’ll be fighting for the starting linebacker spot throughout the spring and fall. He’ll face stern competition from several players, though, with redshirt senior Joshua McMillon, redshirt sophomore Markail Benton, and sophomore Jaylen Moody pushing for the job, not to mention some talented incoming freshman in this recruiting class.

Kaho figures to be the most talented player of the group, and it’s noteworthy how quickly he earned the backup role behind Moses despite limited time to learn the playbook. With a season in the books, and an offseason spent with his nose in the playbook, Kaho should be able to take a big jump next season to snatch up a coveted starting spot.

Next. 2019 NFL Draft: Projected first round after combine. dark

Alabama was soft in the middle last season, something that was evident down the stretch of the season when they played tougher competition. If Moses and Kaho both, or any of the others competing for playing time, can make the leap, Alabama’s defense has the talent to jump back toward the top of college football.

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