“Three-Headed Monster: Alabama Dominates Bruce Feldman’s 2025 ‘Freaks List’ with Trio from Same Position Group”

The annual release of Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” has become one of college football’s most anticipated preseason rituals, spotlighting the nation’s most athletically gifted players who possess rare physical traits that make them outliers even among elite athletes. While the list always draws attention for its star power and eye-popping metrics, the 2025 edition came with a thunderclap from Tuscaloosa. Not one. Not two. But three Alabama players—all from the same position group—earned coveted spots on this year’s list, sending a clear and ominous message to the rest of the college football world: the Crimson Tide’s defensive line is back with a vengeance. In a post-Saban era where Alabama is still defining its identity under Kalen DeBoer, this trio’s inclusion offers a tangible example that the program’s elite talent and development pipeline remains as fearsome as ever.

For Alabama to place three players from the same unit on the Freaks List is more than a quirky statistical feat. It’s an endorsement of both recruiting and development. These aren’t just highly ranked high schoolers resting on potential. These are athletes who have transformed into terrifying game-wreckers under the tutelage of one of the nation’s most respected strength and conditioning programs. In a sport where the line of scrimmage often determines championships, Alabama’s defensive line may be its sharpest weapon in 2025. The players selected—Jahkeem Stewart, Damon Payne Jr., and Keon Keeley—are each physical marvels in their own right, but the fact that they’re part of the same rotation could turn Alabama’s defensive front into the most dominant unit in the sport.

Jahkeem Stewart, the five-star transfer from LSU who made waves last season with his immediate impact, has quickly emerged as one of the most talked-about defensive linemen in the country. Feldman noted Stewart’s insane combination of size, speed, and agility—measuring in at 6-foot-6, 315 pounds with a 40-yard dash time under 4.9 seconds and a vertical leap that would shame most receivers. But it’s more than testing numbers that land Stewart on the list. It’s the way he moves—fluidly, explosively, destructively. In practice reports, teammates struggle to keep him blocked for more than a moment. Offensive linemen speak about him in the kind of hushed tones usually reserved for ghost stories. He’s not just big; he’s disruptive. Coaches around the SEC have already begun game-planning for him, and he hasn’t even started a full season yet.

If Stewart is the brute-force engine of the Tide’s front, Damon Payne Jr. is the technician with a freakish twist. At 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds, Payne has shown he’s not only powerful but also hyper-flexible and agile. His shuttle times rival linebackers, and Feldman pointed out that Payne’s functional strength is off the charts—benching over 500 pounds and squatting more than 700. But it’s the way he combines this power with balance and footwork that makes him special. He can torque his body to fit through double teams, change direction with surprising ease, and disengage from blockers with lightning-quick hands. Payne is what happens when a bodybuilder, ballet dancer, and jiu-jitsu artist combine into one terrifying defensive tackle. His development has been steadily trending upward, but this season he’s expected to become a full-blown star, anchoring the middle of Alabama’s defense with the kind of consistency that turns good units into elite ones.

Then there’s Keon Keeley, the edge rusher with a motor that never stops and explosiveness that seems drawn from comic book physics. Keeley, once a top recruit in the 2023 class, is now emerging as one of the SEC’s premier pass rushers. Feldman singled him out for his 40-inch vertical, sub-4.6 forty-yard dash at 250 pounds, and freakish bend around the edge that few offensive tackles can handle. Keeley isn’t just fast in a straight line—he’s a contortionist who can dip, spin, and explode back to top speed within a single step. His burst off the line is eye-popping on film, and he’s beginning to pair that with an improved repertoire of hand techniques and counter moves. NFL scouts are watching closely, already penciling him in as a potential first-round pick, but more importantly for Alabama, he’s the perfect complement to Stewart and Payne. While they collapse the pocket from the inside, Keeley flies around the edge like a missile.

The synergy between these three players creates nightmare scenarios for offensive lines. Slide protection toward Stewart and Payne, and Keeley will meet the quarterback from behind. Double-team Keeley, and Stewart will destroy the guard-center gap. Try quick passes to mitigate pressure, and Payne’s long arms and elite reaction time will clog up the throwing lanes. The presence of all three on the Freaks List isn’t just symbolic—it’s a reflection of their capacity to tilt games. Together, they form a unit with the ability to render playbooks useless and quarterbacks jittery. And this is before factoring in the supporting cast: younger linemen learning under their wings, linebackers free to roam behind them, and a secondary that suddenly gets a whole lot better when the ball is out in two seconds or less.

For head coach Kalen DeBoer and defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, this trio represents a gift and a challenge. The gift is obvious: they inherit a defensive front that can dominate games by itself, masking deficiencies elsewhere and setting the tone in every matchup. The challenge lies in maximizing the trio without over-relying on them. Rotation will be key—keeping legs fresh for a deep postseason run. So will scheming: these players are versatile enough to operate out of multiple fronts and stunts, giving Alabama a level of unpredictability that is difficult to prepare for.

The psychological impact cannot be overlooked either. Opposing offenses know what they’re walking into when they face Alabama, but the presence of three Freaks List-caliber linemen brings a new level of dread. Even SEC teams with veteran offensive lines will find themselves forced into uncomfortable decisions. Do they keep extra blockers in? Do they change tempo to avoid substitutions? Do they abandon the run game entirely? In past seasons, teams may have found ways to exploit mismatches in Alabama’s defense, but in 2025, the line of scrimmage could become an impenetrable wall.

For Alabama fans, the inclusion of Stewart, Payne, and Keeley on the 2025 Freaks List is more than offseason hype—it’s validation. Validation that the Tide remain a premier destination for elite defensive talent. Validation that their post-Saban blueprint can still produce game-changers. And most of all, validation that championships are still a realistic goal. As the SEC continues to evolve with new teams and new schemes, physical dominance remains the great equalizer. And in 2025, Alabama’s defensive line might be the most physically dominant unit in the entire country.

Beyond the individual athletic feats, there’s also a cultural significance to having three players from the same position group earn this honor. It speaks to a competitive environment in practice where elite talent is the norm, not the exception. These players push each other daily, sharpening skills in the crucible of intra-squad battles. For young prospects, this is a beacon—it says that if you’re a defensive lineman and you want to test yourself against the best, Alabama is the place to be. For NFL scouts, it simplifies travel plans—Tuscaloosa is a one-stop shop for trench warfare greatness.

It’s tempting to reduce Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List to a collection of athletic marvels, but in Alabama’s case, it’s a preview of systemic dominance. The names Stewart, Payne, and Keeley might be listed individually, but their impact will be collective. And as the season kicks off, offenses across the SEC will have to reckon with the reality that Alabama’s defensive line doesn’t just feature one freak athlete—it features three, working in tandem, all wearing crimson, all hungry, and all capable of turning Saturdays into nightmares. If the Freaks List is any indication, Alabama’s path back to the top may begin right where it always has—in the trenches, with monsters leading the way.