The Crimson Tide and the 2020 NFL draft-eligible class took a huge hit Tuesday night as star Junior LB Dylan Moses tore his ACL during an evening practice.
Alabama star linebacker Dylan Moses suffered a torn ACL during the team's practice last night and is out for the year, per sources https://t.co/1dyDuKijYR
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) August 28, 2019
The already thin 2020 linebacker group could hardly afford to lose the star power brought by Mose. The 6’3” 235-pounder racked up 86 total tackles, 10 TFL and 3.5 sacks over 15 games in 2018 while playing next to former teammate and current Cleveland Brown, Mack Wilson. Moses was well on his way to being a first-round pick in 2020 before the injury.
Moses was one of the rare Freshman to see meaningful time for Alabama during the 2017 National Championship run. Moses was supposed to quarterback the defense this coming season but his coming-out party will have to truly wait until 2020.
The gigantic hole left by Moses’ injury will be filled by Freshman Shane Lee, Sophomore’s Jaylen Moody and Ale Kaho as well as RS Sophomore Markhail Benton.
What does this really mean for Alabama? Ironically, not as much as it probably means to the 2020 NFL Draft. There are five-star recruits waiting in the wings. While this is a large blow for any program, expect the Crimson Tide to be dominant again in 2019.
As for Moses, he isn’t the first draft prospect to suffer a severe injury like this and while it certainly hurts his draft stock should he declare in 2020, it doesn’t completely shut the door on his first-round potential. In fact, he could be healthy enough to work out at a late-spring pro day and prove to NFL front offices that he’s healthy enough to justify using a top selection on.
It’s a disappointing turn of events for him, but it isn’t the end of the road by any stretch.