Alabama Football 2025 Season Preview and Predictions: Noah Carter Poised to Emerge as Crimson Tide’s Next Great Defensive Star
As Alabama football prepares for the 2025 season, all eyes are on the new faces ready to make their mark in the post-Saban era. Among the rising talents generating significant buzz is edge rusher Noah Carter, a dynamic, physically gifted player who may soon become a household name in college football. With Kalen DeBoer entering his second season at the helm, and the Crimson Tide reloading with elite talent across the board, Carter stands out as a potential game-changer on a defense undergoing both transition and evolution.
Alabama fans are no strangers to watching defensive stars rise quickly—Will Anderson Jr., Dallas Turner, and others before them turned raw tools into stardom under the guidance of elite coaching and relentless competition. Now, it’s Noah Carter’s turn to seize the spotlight, and 2025 could be the year he begins carving his legacy into the program’s storied defensive tradition.
Entering 2025, Alabama is still a team with championship aspirations, despite the natural uncertainty that came with Nick Saban’s retirement. DeBoer has stabilized the program quickly, led by smart hires, aggressive recruiting, and an emphasis on culture and consistency.
Defensively, Alabama will remain multiple in its schemes under new defensive coordinator Kane Wommack. The Tide will continue to employ a hybrid front, allowing their edge rushers to attack with speed and flexibility—an ideal situation for a player like Carter.
With the departure of key veterans from the 2024 squad, there is both opportunity and expectation. And Noah Carter is in perfect position to capitalize.
Noah Carter, a four-star recruit from Tennessee in the 2024 class, came to Alabama with high expectations and SEC-ready tools. At 6-foot-3 and around 245 pounds, Carter’s combination of speed, power, and agility gives him the potential to become a disruptive force off the edge.
In high school, Carter was a relentless defender—posting double-digit sacks, constant quarterback pressures, and a high motor that earned him praise from scouts and coaches alike. More than just a physical specimen, Carter was praised for his football IQ, his coachability, and his work ethic—all traits that fit perfectly in Alabama’s development model.
While he saw limited snaps as a freshman, those inside the program have consistently pointed to Carter as one of the top breakout candidates entering 2025.
Carter’s performance in spring practices and Alabama’s annual A-Day game only added to the anticipation surrounding his sophomore season. Coaches praised his explosiveness, improved technique, and his ability to bend around the edge—an elite trait in pass-rushers.
During spring drills, Carter reportedly earned increased reps with the first-team defense and showed the type of progress that indicates he’s ready for a significant role.
Teammates have also spoken highly of Carter’s leadership, intensity, and hunger to improve. Veteran defenders have mentioned how he asks questions constantly, stays after practice for extra reps, and approaches every workout with the mindset of earning—not assuming—his spot.
For a player entering just his second year, Carter carries himself like someone who’s already preparing to be “the guy” on Alabama’s front seven.
With Alabama losing experienced edge rushers to the NFL and transfers, the door is wide open for Carter to earn a starting job or heavy rotation snaps.
In Kane Wommack’s system, expect Carter to operate as a stand-up edge defender in most looks, with the flexibility to drop into coverage occasionally but primarily be used as a quarterback hunter.
His speed off the line makes him a threat against slower tackles, and his growing array of pass-rush moves—particularly his club-rip and inside counter—gives him tools to win in multiple ways.
Alabama’s defensive depth chart remains deep, but few players on the current roster offer the ceiling Carter does at the edge. If he continues developing at his current pace, he could easily lead the team in sacks by season’s end.
More than stats, Carter’s presence could redefine how opposing offenses game-plan against Alabama. If he starts hot in the early weeks of the season, expect offensive lines to slide protection his way, opening up opportunities for the rest of the front seven.
While Carter is one of the headline individual stories to watch, Alabama as a whole enters 2025 with renewed optimism and pressure. Kalen DeBoer’s first season exceeded expectations, and now fans want to see real growth and a return to the College Football Playoff.
The Tide’s schedule features high-profile matchups with Georgia, LSU, Texas A&M, and non-conference threats. Carter will be tested early and often, and his performance in those marquee games will likely determine both his national reputation and Alabama’s playoff hopes.
With a top-five recruiting class and returning starters at key positions, Alabama is still viewed as a top-tier contender. Carter’s development could be one of the final pieces that takes this team from very good to elite.
If Carter performs as projected, don’t be surprised to see his name rising up draft boards before long. NFL scouts already have eyes on him thanks to his traits, and a productive sophomore season could vault him into early-round conversations for 2026 or beyond.
In today’s NFL, edge rushers who can win with both speed and power are among the most coveted assets. Carter’s skill set, frame, and demeanor fit that mold.
Even if he isn’t draft-eligible until after the 2026 season, the hype train could start early if he dominates against top-tier SEC competition.
For Alabama, players like Noah Carter symbolize the continuation of greatness. The program isn’t just looking to replace stars—it’s developing new ones constantly.
Carter’s rise wouldn’t just be another success story. It would be proof that even in a new era of Alabama football, the system still works, the talent still comes, and the standard remains elite.
For Carter, this season is an opportunity to prove he belongs among the great pass rushers in Alabama history. For DeBoer and the Crimson Tide, it’s a chance to show that this next generation isn’t just surviving the post-Saban transition—they’re thriving in it.
The 2025 season is shaping up to be a critical year for both Noah Carter and Alabama football. As the Tide navigate life after Saban, Carter represents the kind of homegrown, developed star who can help define the new identity.
He’s not just a player to watch—he’s a player to believe in. With a relentless motor, elite traits, and the backing of Alabama’s coaching machine, Carter is ready to make noise.
Don’t be surprised if, by the end of 2025, Noah Carter isn’t just one of Alabama’s best defenders—he’s one of the best in the entire country.
