Alabama Crimson Tide's defensive coordinator, Kane Wommack, recently shared an intriguing backstory about scouting tape from last November. He was reviewing footage of the Mercer Bears and Auburn Tigers when he discovered Carmelo O'Neal, a standout defensive back, eventually recruiting the six-foot-four talent from the transfer portal.
But why was Wommack focused on Auburn's dominant 62-17 win over an FCS team ahead of the 2025 Iron Bowl? Ashton Daniels, Auburn's expected starter for Week 14, wasn't even active in that game.
The real draw might have been Deuce Knight, the record-setting quarterback who had racked up over 400 yards and six touchdowns the previous week. Many thought Knight could have been the game-changer in a matchup that might have saved DJ Durkin's head coaching tenure and possibly Derrick Nix's role as offensive coordinator.
Yet, Knight never saw action during the Iron Bowl, a decision that loomed large as Auburn fell to Alabama in a loss that could have knocked the Tide out of playoff contention. Instead, Alabama went on to prove their playoff worthiness with a decisive 38-3 victory over the Indiana Hoosiers in the Rose Bowl.
Looking back, not playing Deuce Knight in the Iron Bowl might be DJ Durkin's biggest regret. Although Durkin has since shifted focus to his defensive strengths in 2026, with Alex Golesh stepping in to address offensive challenges, the decision not to use Knight remains a pivotal moment. Daniels performed admirably, nearly securing a win, but one wonders how the game might have shifted had Knight been introduced to shake up Alabama's defense.
Knight had only participated in two games prior, preserving his redshirt status even if he had played against Alabama. His performance against an FCS team the week before could have been a strategic move to boost his transfer value, while also maintaining Daniels' redshirt. Knight's other appearance was against Ball State, a team that finished 10th in the MAC.
While it's easy to speculate about the motivations of college athletes, especially with sports agents now part of the collegiate landscape, the decision to keep Knight off the field remains a tantalizing "what if" from the 2025 season.