Deontae Lawson Returns as Alabama’s Lone Captain, Recovering From Injury and Preparing to Anchor the Defense in 2025 Season
When Alabama took the field for the opening of fall camp, one name—and presence—stood above the rest: Deontae Lawson. The redshirt senior linebacker, the team’s only returning captain from 2024, carries with him the weight of leadership, experience, and expectation. Yet as the Crimson Tide begin a new chapter under head coach Kalen DeBoer, Lawson’s physical health and recovery from an offseason injury may prove just as pivotal as his leadership.
Lawson, a former four-star recruit out of Mobile, has grown steadily into one of Alabama’s most dependable defenders over the past two seasons. After a breakout sophomore campaign in 2023 and a more vocal, all-around performance in 2024, he returns as the heart of the defense, both in terms of production and personality. But after sustaining a lower leg injury late in spring practice, questions have emerged about his readiness for the season and how Alabama’s new defensive staff plans to manage his return.
The injury itself was never publicly detailed by the Alabama staff, consistent with the program’s longstanding policy under Nick Saban of withholding specific medical information. What is known is that Lawson was limited through much of the spring and did not participate in the A-Day spring game. Multiple sources close to the program have described the injury as a “minor” setback, more precautionary than serious, but it still left Lawson sidelined for a crucial stretch of offseason development.
Heading into fall camp, Lawson was cleared for non-contact drills and walkthroughs. On Day 1, he was seen working with the first-team defense in alignment drills, calling out formations, and helping younger linebackers get into position. His movement appeared fluid, if slightly cautious. He participated in individual linebacker drills but did not take part in 11-on-11 sessions. Alabama’s medical staff and DeBoer have made it clear they plan to take a cautious, long-term approach with Lawson. There is no desire to rush him into full-speed work during early camp, especially when his value lies in being ready for Week 1 and beyond.
Despite the limited physical workload, Lawson’s presence loomed large. He spent much of practice shadowing new defensive coordinator William Inge, helping communicate play calls, and reinforcing expectations with his teammates. In the linebacker room, his voice is the one others gravitate toward. Players like Jihaad Campbell and Justin Jefferson have openly referred to Lawson as a “coach on the field,” and that dynamic was fully visible on Day 1 of camp.
For Inge, who arrived with DeBoer from Washington, Lawson represents a rare gift—a returning captain who not only understands Alabama’s internal culture but can help bridge the transition from the Saban era to a new identity. Inge has praised Lawson’s maturity and football IQ, often referencing him as a “defensive CEO.” And while Lawson may not be taking live reps yet, he’s making his impact felt in other ways: mentoring younger players, helping install terminology, and reinforcing the physical standards that have long defined Alabama’s front seven.
One of the more interesting developments in Lawson’s recovery has been how it’s created opportunity for others. Campbell, the former five-star from IMG Academy, has assumed a more prominent role next to Lawson in the middle of the defense. He’s quicker, more aggressive, and increasingly vocal. Without Lawson in full form, Campbell has had to take on more mental responsibilities—calling adjustments and reacting to offensive shifts. The experience could pay dividends when both are on the field together in September.
Still, Alabama’s defense will not reach its ceiling without a healthy Deontae Lawson. His ability to read offenses, adjust alignments pre-snap, and lead in pressure situations has been critical to the Tide’s defensive success. And with several new faces in the secondary and on the edge, his leadership is even more vital in 2025. The question is not whether Lawson will return to full strength, but when—and whether Alabama can afford any delays in that process.
The early signs are encouraging. Lawson’s offseason conditioning reportedly went well, and while he was limited in spring, he remained active in film sessions and team meetings. He’s shed the protective boot he wore in April and now moves without any visible limp. Trainers and coaches have echoed that he’s ahead of schedule, and barring a setback, he is expected to be at full speed before the season opener.
Lawson himself has taken the injury in stride. In media availability, he’s kept his focus on the team rather than his own rehab. “I’m doing what I need to do,” he said earlier this summer. “The goal is to be ready when it matters, and to make sure this team is locked in. That’s what I’m here for.” That sentiment is exactly why Lawson was elected captain again, this time unanimously by his teammates. It’s also why DeBoer and Inge trust him implicitly, even as he works his way back to 100 percent.
There’s a broader significance to Lawson’s role that goes beyond tackles or film sessions. As the lone returning captain, he is the connective tissue between eras. He was developed under Nick Saban’s exacting standards, endured the pressures of high-stakes SEC play, and now serves as the cultural compass for a locker room filled with new voices, transfers, and freshmen. For DeBoer, who inherits one of the most demanding jobs in college football, Lawson’s presence provides continuity—and credibility.
That credibility was on display the moment Lawson took the field for fall camp. Younger players observed his footwork, echoed his calls, and leaned in when he spoke. When a drill wasn’t executed with the right tempo, it was Lawson—not a coach—who corrected it. He is, in every sense, Alabama’s defensive general. And while his body is still returning to peak condition, his influence is already in midseason form.
The importance of a healthy Lawson cannot be overstated, especially considering Alabama’s schedule. Early road tests against Wisconsin and Ole Miss will challenge the defense’s communication and endurance. Later matchups against Tennessee, LSU, and Georgia will require perfect execution. If Lawson is on the field and at full strength, Alabama’s chances of dictating tempo and forcing mistakes increase dramatically. Without him, the defense loses not just a tackler, but a field general with deep institutional knowledge.
From a scouting perspective, Lawson is also playing for more than just Alabama’s success. After testing the NFL Draft waters last winter, he opted to return for one more season, aiming to sharpen his tape and leadership resume. Scouts already like his instincts, lateral quickness, and tackling form, but he’ll need to stay healthy and prove he can consistently produce against elite competition to push himself into Day 1 or early Day 2 draft territory.
For now, though, Lawson’s focus remains inward—on the team, on recovery, and on preparing for one last ride in Tuscaloosa. As Alabama moves through fall camp, his workload will gradually increase, with the expectation that he’ll be fully integrated into live team reps by mid-August. Until then, he remains both a participant and an overseer, guiding the defense even when he’s not taking every snap.
There’s an old football adage that says leadership is doing the right thing when no one is watching. For Deontae Lawson, it’s more than a motto—it’s the way he’s built. Injured or not, he’s setting the tone for a new-look Alabama. And if he’s healthy by Week 1, there’s every reason to believe this defense, anchored by its captain, could once again be among the nation’s best.
Lawson’s journey from promising recruit to captain, from injury back to readiness, encapsulates everything Alabama is trying to be under DeBoer: resilient, focused, and quietly determined. He is the foundation on which this defense—and possibly this season—will be built. And Day by day, rep by rep, he’s working his way back to where he belongs: in the middle of it all, leading the Tide.
