Alabama Defensive Lineman Expected to be Out for Year

Beaman has been considered a breakout candidate on this defensive line and Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack has really liked what he's seen from him.

"I thought he took huge strides in the spring, and he's done a great job in fall camp," Wommack said on Aug. 20. "Consistent, doing his job at a high level, the challenge of those interior D-linemen is always creating production, wreaking havoc in the backfield, and I think he's taken steps in the right direction to do that."

The 6-foot-4, 314-pounder from Parker High School in Birmingham, Ala., redshirted his freshman season after appearing in three games. Because of injuries, Beaman got more practice and playing time during bowl prep and saw his largest amount of playing time in the loss to Michigan, finishing with two tackles and a quarterback pressure.

As previously stated, Beaman filled in for Keenan in Week 1 due to an ankle injury that led to a tightrope surgery. That said, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer explained during Wednesday’s SEC coaches teleconference that Keenan seems to be making a ton of progress.

"Tim Keenan will not be available this week, but he's doing really well and making the progress that we would expect," DeBoer said. "This is not a long-term injury for him."

Beaman was the second defensive tackle in command, but that will change now that he’s out for the year.

A potential leading candidate for Beaman’s role is redshirt sophomore Edric Hill. The 6-foot-3, 284-pounder will likely be more of a defensive end/tackle this season due to being 30 pounds lighter than nose tackles Keenan and Beaman, but the co-captain applauded Hill during SEC Media Days.

"Oh my gosh, Edric Hill is making tremendous strides," Keenan said. "He is so naturally gifted and naturally fluent. He don't know, but I be watching some of his reps sometimes just trying to make my game after his because his is so smooth and it seems effortless."

A player who is on the watchlist for three national awards occasionally modeling his game after someone who finished last year with three tackles shows a remarkable improvement from Hill and also trust in the redshirt sophomore.

A couple of other reserve defensive line options that could help fill in for Beaman include redshirt freshman Isaia Faga, sophomore Steve Bolo Mboumoua and true freshman London Simmons.