Crimson Tide lands major talent on defensive line

College football's early signing period is here and transfer portal moves are in full swing, and when it comes to the defensive front, the Alabama Crimson Tide is reloading in preparation for the departure of a talented group of pass rushers.

Through the transfer portal, Alabama landed former five-star recruit LT Overton from Texas A&M, a lineman who "should provide immediate depth and veteran presence to Alabama’s defensive front," as Nick Alvarez wrote for AL.com.

Joining Overton as new arrivals to the defensive line are two recruits, four-star Jeremiah Beaman and three-star Isaia Faga, and possibly Aggie teammate Fadil Diggs, who visited Tuscaloosa this past weekend. Also new to Tuscaloosa are two four-star edge rushers: Sterling Dixon, who starred in-state at Spanish Fort, and Jayshawn Ross of Kansas City, Missouri.

The fresh faces will likely be much appreciated by defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, as four of the Crimson Tide's top pass rushers are seniors and juniors likely to be picked early in the NFL draft.

Combined, linebackers Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell and linemen Justin Eboigbe and Tim Smith have 26 sacks this season.

With those likely departures, linebackers Deontae Lawson and Trezmen Marshall will be the Tide's most experienced pass rushers, though this season, they've only combined for 5.5 sacks. When it comes to the defensive linemen, junior Jah-Marien Latham is the top returning player with 1.5 sacks in 2023.

That's a lot of production to replace, but between new recruits and working the portal, the talent appears to be enough to meet Alabama's standard. The only question that remains is which of the fresh faces will win out in camp and practices to earn snaps come next fall.