Alabama’s ability to rack up national championships and NFL draft picks under coach Nick Saban has resulted in the annual offseason challenge of younger Crimson Tide players having to step up to fill big shoes.
Quinnen Williams, a redshirt sophomore defensive lineman, is well aware of the towering task.
“The defensive line runs things around here,” Williams said in a recent news conference. “In the past, you’ve had Jonathan Allen, Da’Ron Payne, Dalvin Tomlinson and A’Shawn Robinson. You’ve had a lot of great leaders on this defensive line who really ran the defense and made sure everyone was in order.
“We want to be that kind of defensive line. We don’t want any falloff from last year.”
A day after visiting the White House to get honored for last season’s national championship, Alabama returned to practice Wednesday afternoon, working out for two hours in full pads.