Coming into the season, Alabama linebacker Dylan Moses was seen as a potential Butkus Award winner. Moses was a finalist for the award given to the best linebacker in the country last season, and he figured to be one of the leaders for the Crimson Tide this year. Unfortunately, it was reported earlier this morning that Moses sustained an ACL tear last night.
Alabama star linebacker Dylan Moses suffered a torn ACL during the team's practice last night and is out for the year, per sources https://t.co/1dyDuKijYR
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) August 28, 2019
Moses led the Crimson Tide with 86 tackles last season. He racked up 10 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks from his role as the team’s inside linebacker, and he was the one proven commodity Alabama had at inside linebacker. Moses appeared in eight games as a freshman in 2017 before taking over as a starter alongside Mack Wilson last year.
Moses was being heralded as a first round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Five Alabama linebackers have already been selected in the first round of the NFL Draft this decade, and Moses was looking to add his name to a list that includes greats like Dont’a Hightower and C.J. Mosley.
Hate to see these reports on Bama LB Dylan Moses tearing his ACL. Top 15 type talent. I’m sure he’ll attack his rehab & he’ll have a tough decision to make following the season.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) August 28, 2019
Losing their one experienced inside linebacker is a big deal for Alabama. Joshua McMillon is the only other upperclassmen listed in the two-deep, so one of the inexperienced underclassmen will have to fill the spot.
As of now, it appears that true freshman Shane Lee will be the starter, but sophomores Jaylen Moody and Ale Kaho might get into the mix as well. This could lead to some roles and assignments shifting too as the Crimson Tide have a lot more experience at outside linebacker.
There are some real questions in Alabama’s front seven this season, but the Crimson Tide will have a while to work out the kinks. They are favored by more than five touchdowns against Duke on Saturday, and their first real test won’t come until October when Alabama heads to College Station to face Texas A&M.
H/T ESPN
