Alabama
Is Alabama football defense outperforming expectations under Kalen DeBoer?

With returning starters all through the middle of the Alabama football defense − at defensive tackle, inside linebacker and safety − stopping the run figured to be a strength of the 2024 Crimson Tide. Meanwhile, Alabama entered the season green with inexperience at cornerback and at the pass rush edge, suggesting that growing pains were inevitable in pass defense.
It’s been much the opposite through three games.
Part of the reason, certainly, is that the quarterbacks the Crimson Tide has faced to date aren’t exactly dynamic passers. Western Kentucky’s TJ Finley has been pedestrian at best in his career against tough competition, South Florida’s Byrum Brown was more effective as a runner against UA, and Wisconsin starter Tyler Van Dyke barely played against Alabama due to a first-quarter knee injury.
Still, UA defensive coordinator Kane Wommack is excited by what he’s seen from his cornerbacks, led by starters Domani Jackson and Zabien Brown.
“In the last two games, we’ve had over 100 snaps of man coverage, and on the outside in man coverage our corners have only given up two catches for 24 yards. So (I’m) really pleased by the consistency we’re seeing from some of those young players on the outside,” Wommack said. “I think we’ve been fairly sticky in coverage. I think we’re denying some of the easy-access throws, and at the same time, we’ve been able to limit some of the explosive plays downfield.”
GOODBREAD: How DeBoer differs from Saban on game day
NOT JUST YET: Much of Alabama offense won’t be installed in 2024
Wommack sees more issues with the run defense. Wisconsin rushed for 149 yards and its top back, Chez Mellusi, averaged six yards per carry against the Crimson Tide. Up next for Alabama, of course, is a foe that can absolutely gash defenses with the run: Georgia. With Trevor Etienne averaging 6.5 yards per carry as a highly-talented transfer from Florida, the Bulldogs will check for soft spots in Alabama’s run defense early and often on Sept. 28.
“I still think there’s some things we’re not doing well enough in the run game right now. I think we’ve got to continue to work in cleaning up some of our fundamentals and techniques,” Wommack added. “I also think schematically, when we call some of our pressures, we have not executed those things well enough up front.”
Etc.
A week ago, it was noted here that Alabama very much needed sophomore left tackle Kadyn Proctor to be in peak form coming off a shoulder injury in his season debut at Wisconsin. The outcome? He delivered exactly that. Over 46 snaps, his pass protection allowed no sacks, no hurries and no hits on QB Jalen Milroe. He wasn’t penalized once, and he turned in the fifth-best run-blocking grade of his 15-game career, per Pro Football Focus. … Former Alabama running back and Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram spoke to the Crimson Tide on Friday night before UA’s road game at Wisconsin. Ingram was in Madison as part of FOX Sports’ broadcast team. He also spoke to the team in Tuscaloosa in August.
Around the SEC
After Wake Forest bought its way out of a Sept. 13, 2025, road game at Ole Miss last week, Rebels coach Lane Kiffin understandably criticized the move. But his lament about how difficult it will be to find a replacement opponent on short notice rings hollow. In fact, there’s an easy option within a bus drive of Oxford that would eagerly sign up: Southern Miss needs a game for Sept. 13 next year, too. … The Billy Napier Death March moves to Starkville this week. Does it end there? If Florida drops its third September loss to a Mississippi State team that just got drummed at home by Toledo, Gator fans will be incensed. Then again, interim coach stints are designed to last a messy few weeks, not a messy three months. And this early in the season, getting an early start on a job search is overrated as an advantage. … Imagine it’s your school’s first league game as a new member of the SEC. You’re 3-0. You’ve got ESPN’s “College GameDay” coming to town. And you (Oklahoma) get blasted at home by one of your own favorite sons (Tennessee coach Josh Heupel). It could easily happen Saturday. … SEC Spread Pick of the Week: Needing to get even for the season, this week’s pick advises the under on the Florida-MSU total (58.5). Season ATS: 1-2 (.333). All-time ATS: 22-6-1 (.776).
Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X.com @chasegoodbread.

Alabama
Tennessee vs Alabama Baseball – Vols Look to Continue SEC Tournament Dominance

The Tennessee Volunteers are looking to continue their SEC tournament dominance against Alabama.
The Tennessee Volunteers are looking to continue their recent dominance in the SEC tournament as they have won two of the last three conference titles. Last season, after losing their first game of the tournament, they proceeded to go on a win streak and win the SEC title en route to a national title.
This year, they kick the tournament off against the Alabama Crimson Tide. A team the Volunteers played during the regular season and proceeded to win the series despite playing on the road. However, the Volunteers are currently searching for momentum as they have lost five straight conference series and six of their last seven.
Alabama won their first round game against the Missouri Tigers by a final score of 4-1. Missouri finished the season dead last in the conference. The Crimson Tide are also 1-5 in their last six conference series, so both programs are searching to pick up some steam heading into postseason play.
Wednesday’s game is set to start at 1 PM CT and will be streamed on SEC Network for fans who want to watch the contest.
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OTHER TENNESSEE NEWS
Alabama
Alabama Baseball: Quartet Of Players Honored

The Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team had four players recognized as All-SEC performers by the conference office on Monday afternoon. Kade Snell, Carson Ozmer, Riley Quick, and Justin LeBron were the award winners. Snell and Ozmer were 1st team All-SEC selections, while Quick and LeBron were named to the second team. LeBron was also named to the all defensive team for the second year in a row. The last outfielder Alabama outfielder to be named to the 1st team was all time hit leader Taylor Dugas in 2012. Quick is the first Alabama starting pitcher to be named All-SEC since Austin Hyatt made the 1st team in 2009. The duo of Snell and Ozmer are the first two Alabama players to be on the 1st team since Dugas and shortstop Josh Rutledge in 2010.
Kade Snell- 1st team All-SEC outfielder. Snell led the team with a .374 batting average, good for second in the conference. The 5th year senior from Wicksburg, AL also led the team in hits with 74, and in on base percentage with a .471 mark. Snell added 13 doubles, 10 home runs, 50 RBI, 119 total bases with a .601 slugging percentage, while drawing 35 walks, scoring 45 runs, and only striking out 16 times in 198 at bats. Snell served as the team captain this season.
Carson Ozmer-1st team All-SEC relief pitcher. The graduate student from Lantana, Texas transferred to Alabama prior to the 2025 season after graduating from Penn. Ozmer set an Alabama school record with saves in a season with 16 in his only year in Tuscaloosa. Ozmer led the team with 27 appearances and pitched 36.1 inning with a 4-1 record and a 2.97 ERA. The sidewinder struck out 47 batters and walked 10.
Riley Quick-2nd team All-SEC starting pitcher. The redshirt sophomore from Trussville, AL pitched in only one game in 2024 before tearing his UCL in his third inning of the year. After Tommy John surgery, Quick recovered in record time and was able to pitch in the opening series of the year. The big (6’6” 250 pound) fireballer started 13 games in the regular season and forged a record of 8-2 with a 3.54 ERA over 56 innings. Quick struck out 64 and allowed only three home runs. Major League scouts have Quick high on their list for this summers draft- expect Quick to be a mid 1st round pick.
Justin LeBron- 2nd team All-SEC shortstop, 1st team All Defensive team. Hailing from Miramar, FL, LeBron was a first team All-SEC selection last year as well as being named to the All Defensive team. LeBron became the first player in program history be selected twice on the All Defensive team. The sophomore was second on the team in batting average at .313, led the team in runs with 58, doubles with 17, home runs with 18, RBI with 69, total bases with 141, slugging percentage at .650, and stolen bases with 16 in 17 attempts. The 69 runs batted in led the SEC. LeBron was second to Snell in hits with 68, and also had 31 walks, nine hit by pitches, and four sacrifice fly’s, while manning the shortstop position at an elite level.
The Tide will open SEC Tournament play tomorrow (Tuesday) morning at 9:30 a.m. CT against the Missouri Tigers. Bama looks to add to their resume and earn a top 16 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The top 16 will all host regionals.
Roll Tide
Bama Baseball Fever, Catch it!
Alabama
New Alabama commercial airport: What to know before May 21 opening
Jesse Fosnaugh began his tenure as the director of the Gulf Shores International Airport on Dec. 30.
Since then, he’s administered the forthcoming opening of a new commercial air service from a new two-gate airport in Gulf Shores. It’s the first time Gulf Shores will have commercial air service in the city’s history. It’s also the first time Allegiant Air will provide service from an airport in Alabama.
Fosnaugh provides the details of the new airport, the inaugural flight and what people can expect:
Is everything ready for the opening on Wednesday? Is the construction officially completed, or will there be last-minute punch-list items that are needed to be completed? Everything will be ready for our first flight on May 21, 2025, on Allegiant. The first flight departs around 5:15 p.m. to Knoxville. The terminal is completed and tenants are currently outfitting their work areas, furniture is getting installed, and final placement of signs and other wayfinding is underway.
How many total employees are lined up to greet passengers on Wednesday? How many new TSA agents in Gulf Shores? How many new general employees and those in the new tower who will be handling commercial flights? While I cannot divulge specific TSA or FAA staffing numbers, between ticket agents, law enforcement, fire department, baggage handlers, TSA, rental car and airport operations staff, we expect nearly 50 employees to greet the flight on May 21.
How many people will Allegiant employ at the airport? Allegiant will be represented by a third-party business contractor, Trego-Dugan, to perform aircraft ground handling and ticketing functions. They expect around 20 people to be part of the operation here in Gulf Shores.
What other public resources will be present at the airport – i.e., will there be Gulf Shores police and fire rescue with a full-time presence? The airport will have multiple agencies involved in the day-to-day operations. Aircraft Rescue Firefighting and Airport Law Enforcement responsibilities will be fulfilled by Gulf Shores Fire Department and Gulf Shores Police Department. The Public Works Department of the city of Gulf Shores also provides all landscaping and groundskeeping for the airport. It takes a village.
Back in late December, some of the beach rentals said they had concerns about transportation options from the airport to the beach condos and rentals. Do those concerns still exist? If not, how have they been resolved when it comes to getting visitors from the airport to the beach rentals (non-hotels)? There will be a plethora of ground transportation options available once you arrive into the terminal. We have arrangements with multiple shuttle and ground transportation providers including Surfside Shuttle, Robin’s Rides, and Beach Express Taxi. We also have arrangements with Uber (and) Lyft to service the airport. Rental Cars will also be available with Enterprise and Alamo. Our visitors and residents alike are going to have a seamless experience getting in and out of the airport.
An overwhelming number of vacationers to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach visit the area via automobile. What is the goal for the new airport when it comes to bringing visitors to the area – (is there a percentage or a number that is being targeted in a particular time frame?) We fully expect to have 60,000 passengers in 2025. About 80% of these passengers will be visitors and 20% will be residents flying out. Our goal is to be the premiere gateway to Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Foley. Our airport team will be an extension of the hospitality that our visitors and residents have come to expect. Using our airport will be easier than ever. A true world-class experience.
Allegiant Air launched nonstop service to Austin, Texas, from Cleveland last week — one of 11 destinations the airline will serve from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. (Courtesy Allegiant Air) ORG XMIT: CLE1702221144147483 ORG XMIT: CLE1702271040163226 ORG XMIT: CLE1705110349292152 ORG XMIT: CLE1708290310483568 The Plain DealerThe Plain Dealer
What time is the flight on May 21 to McGhee Tyson Airport? The flight arrives at 1:14 p.m. and departs at 5:15 p.m.
Is it a full flight? If so, how many passengers? We do not have confirmed numbers but the flight looks well-booked in both directions when we look to buy tickets online it looks to be about 65 people booked as of today for the first flight from Knoxville on 5/21.
What time should passengers show up for this inaugural flight? 3 hours prior
Any inaugural events planned at the airport on the 21st? We will have an invite-only ribbon cutting ceremony from 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Will there be any inaugural swag given out at the airport – first flight keychains, or baggage tags or anything interesting like that? We’ll have a variety of exclusive swag for the inaugural event for our guests and passengers.
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