Pete Golding breaks down Alabama's linebacker depth for Sugar Bowl

NS_headshot_clearbackgroundby:Nick Schultz•12/29/22•

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As Alabama gets ready for the Sugar Bowl against Kansas State, the Crimson Tide have plenty of depth at linebacker. Not only is Will Anderson suiting up for the game, but the Tide is getting healthy at the other spots, according to defensive coordinator Pete Golding.

Golding confirmed multiple linebackers will be able to play in the game and they’ve seen plenty of action in practice this week. Among the players looking to make an impact is Kendrick Blackshire, who’s been out with a wrist injury.

“Obviously, Henry [To’oTo’o’s] playing in the game,” Golding said. “We’ll have Deontae Lawson, who’s been playing the Will position. Shawn Murphy’s worked in the backup position along with Kendrick Blackshire, who’s been out for a while. We’ve got him back healthy. At the Will position, obviously, you’ve got Deontae and Jihaad [Campbell] and then Ian Jackson, as well. We’ve been rolling six guys through the bowl game and trying to get a lot of reps because we’ll see who shows up on Saturday. But those six have been getting all the reps.”

Alabama went 10-2 in the regular season and will kick off the Sugar Bowl against K-State Saturday at noon ET.

Pete Golding planning for Kansas State to play two QBs

When Alabama and Kansas State get together in the Sugar Bowl, the Crimson Tide is fully prepared to be defending two different quarterbacks. But whether it’s Will Howard or Adrian Martinez, Alabama defensive coordinator Pete Golding isn’t going to be changing up the plan.

That’s mostly because Kansas State doesn’t change much going from one quarterback to the other, schematically at least. It’s more that Martinez and Howard bring their own little tweaks and twists to how the Wildcats operate, but the underpinning scheme stays constant.

“Up front I don’t think they change schematically really who they are,” Golding said. “Obviously there’s a little bit more of the quarterback run game, with [Martinez] in the game, but they’ll still do it with [Howard] in the game as well. So, the big thing, I think the difference with [Martinez] is when the coverage breaks down and it’s not there, the ability to extend the play. I think he’s a little more consistent than when [Howard] is in the game. But we gotta be ready for both of ’em.”