Alabama’s inside linebacker picture finally has a clear shape.
Kane Wommack said Luke Metz is the Crimson Tide’s second starter at the position, pairing him with Virginia Tech transfer Caleb Woodson after a summer-long competition that included junior QB Reese and others.
"Luke Metz is really our other starter right now," Wommack said. "But those other guys have done a really good job.
I'm pleased with that room. [Inside linebackers coach] Chuck Morrell has done a fantastic job with the development in that room.
You're going to see a number of guys in there, but certainly Luke and Caleb will be the first two out."
Metz’s rise has been building for a while. He appeared in all 15 games as a freshman, though most of that work came on special teams. This offseason, though, he pushed himself into a much bigger role, and that jump showed up most clearly at A-Day.
In that game, Metz finished with four tackles, including two for loss, and a sack. He was part of a five-way tie for second on the team in tackles, alongside Woodson and Hill, and he spent the day flying around in a rotational role that only added to the buzz around what he can do as a sophomore.
Wommack pointed to Metz’s growth in how he processes the game and reacts to it.
"Luke's anticipation and the confidence to pull the trigger [is where I've seen him improve the most]," Wommack said. "He sees the run fits so much better right now.
He's got a little bit of a field general presence. When you watch him on game day, watch the way he communicates out there.
The way he points things out, plays with anticipation, it's the way you want a linebacker to play the game.
"The best production comes from a defense that can anticipate what's coming next, and he has greatly improved in that regard. I think we're going to see good production because of that."
Wommack has liked Metz’s progress all offseason, and he made that clear on Aug. 11 as well.
"Luke has always been a guy that, when you watch his tape, the energy that he plays with, the passion he plays with, and the physicality," Wommack said on Aug. 11.
"I thought at the beginning of spring ball he got a little bit where he was more concerned about the scheme and making a mistake. He was playing a little bit hesitant at the beginning of spring.
"I talked to him like, 'Hey man, go back to who you are and what you do. You're a guy that can go run and hit and be decisive.'
He took that to heart. He took strides as we moved into spring ball, and then you saw that through the summertime, and right now he's playing at a very high level.
Excited about him."
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