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Kane Wommack met with reporters in Tuscaloosa on Friday as Alabama continues its spring practice period.
Wommack was asked about the interior of Alabama’s defensive line this offseason. Wommack, who is entering his 2nd season as Alabama’s defensive coordinator, acknowledged that the unit isn’t where it needs to be yet from a depth perspective.
“I don’t know if I ever feel like I have enough depth on the interior,” Wommack said. “It’s certainly an area that I think from a defensive standpoint, it’s probably one of our biggest areas of depth concern. Development is the best recipe for that. But certainly we’ll make sure we address those needs in any way we need to before the season.”
It certainly seems possible that Alabama will look to add an interior lineman or 2 during the spring transfer portal window. However, Wommack also left the door open for some internal development to fill those roles.
Tim Keenan III and James Smith are both back after logging more than 300 snaps apiece last season for the Crimson Tide, per PFF. However, Tim Smith is off to the NFL and Damon Payne Jr. transferred to Michigan this offseason. That opens up significant roles on Alabama’s interior DL for the 2025 season.
Wommack called out a couple of underclassmen who could make an impact sooner rather than later: Edric Hill and Jeremiah Beaman.
“Guys in spring I’m noticing out there, Edric Hill is doing a really good job. Jeremiah Beaman is doing a really good job,” Wommack said. “So we’re going to have to ask some of those younger players to step up in a major role this year. So it’s going to be a tough challenge for ’em.”
Hill is a redshirt sophomore while Beaman is a redshirt freshman. Those 2 combined to play under 100 snaps last season for the Crimson Tide. Time will tell if Alabama will look to add a more veteran presence at this position during the upcoming transfer window.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
