Playing for Alabama football continues to ‘hit different’ for homegrown defenders

Alabama football’s defensive front will be anchored by group of talented defenders with roots tied to the state of Alabama.

Tim Keenan III, Deontae Lawson, Qua Russaw, LT Overton, James Smith, Kelby Collins, Yhonzae Pierre, Jeremiah Beaman and QB Reese either grew up in Alabama or played some high school football inside the state. Most of them are expected to have prominent roles on the Tide’s defense in 2025.

Keenan is the big man in the middle of the Alabama defense. The Birmingham, Alabama native is a leader on and off the field, and he knows all too well what it means to play for the Crimson Tide as a native of the state.

“Any guy up there, they’re gonna do their best, but when you got that, 205, 256, 251, them type of area codes in your number, it hits a little different when you’re out there on that field,” Keenan said. “So being from the state of Alabama and getting to play for the University of Alabama means a lot.”

James Smith is in line to potentially have a breakout season for the Crimson Tide in 2025. He has had a strong offseason and is ready to live out a dream he has waited for and worked for while growing up in Alabama.

“We know it means a lot more to play for Alabama,” Smith said at Alabama football’s media day. “We grew up watching it. It ain’t no secret. Even other people in other states grew up watching Alabama. It is really so real just to be playing for Alabama. Being a kid, growing up, I used to tell my parents I am going to play for Alabama. You not really thinking it is going to happen and God let it really happen.”

Kalen DeBoer and his staff have put an emphasis on recruiting some of the state’s top talent during the 2026 recruiting cycle. Alabama currently holds commitments from seven recruits with ties to the state. Five of them currently play high school football in Alabama while Jamarion Matthews and Xavier Griffin line up for Gainesville High School in Georgia as natives of the Huntsville, Alabama area.