Alabama football will have a strong defense, and people are ready to see it.
During the summer, the Crimson Tide has had defensive players named to preseason All-American teams and award watch lists.
National media expects Nick Saban’s defense to be at the forefront of college football this season. The Tide will have a few athletes to project as first-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. According to ESPN’s Cole Cubelic, Christian Harris and Tim Smith were both named as top defenders in the Southeastern Conference. Cubelic has Harris as the top-ranked inside linebacker while Smith is one of five top defensive breakout players.