Alabama Football: 3 Breakout Candidates for 2022
By Kathryn Rose
![Alabama running back Trey Sanders (6) follows a block by Alabama wide receiver Traeshon Holden (11) as he runs the ball against Cincinnati during the 2021 College Football Playoff Semifinal game at the 86th Cotton Bowl in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. Alabama defeated Cincinnati 27-6 to advance to the national championship game. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]College Football Playoffs Alabama Vs Cincinnati](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F7fde1331f5a82a0299f861cfc9eca70220546cacc9d3d541b849c23d6b102c24.jpg "Alabama running back Trey Sanders (6) follows a block by Alabama wide receiver Traeshon Holden (11) as he runs the ball against Cincinnati during the 2021 College Football Playoff Semifinal game at the 86th Cotton Bowl in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. Alabama defeated Cincinnati 27-6 to advance to the national championship game. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]College Football Playoffs Alabama Vs Cincinnati")
Deontae Lawson – Linebacker
Alabama football returns quite a bit of their linebacking corps from a year ago, including edge rusher Will Anderson, mike linebacker Henry To’o To’o, and standout sophomore Dallas Turner. However, with Christian Harris gone to the NFL, the will linebacker position will need filling.
Jaylen Moody is the most experienced player currently available at this position. Deontae Lawson, though, seems like the guy with the most upside out of all the talented young linebackers Alabama has.
Lawson didn’t play a whole lot in 2021, only playing in four games in garbage time with no stats to his name. What makes Lawson a good candidate for breaking out though, is the buzz surrounding him. He’s almost certainly the most gifted talent at the position, with 24/7’s scouting report on him out of high school comparing him to former Tide linebacker C.J. Moseley.
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With first-round pick talent, he could win the job over Moody, and be one of the next great Alabama stoppers.