TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis wears No. 48, which is somewhat of an anomaly for a 6-foot-4, 312-pound college player.

After making 18 tackles and recovering a fumble while being named to the coaches’ All-SEC Freshman team, Mathis knows he will be a part of the rotation up front.

As for where, your guess is as good and anyone's.

“Right now we’re still working,” Mathis said about the developing rotation following the departure of Quinnen Williams and Isaiah Buggs. “We’re still on the clock. We’ve got time for the young guys to improve.”

One “young guy” who impressed many in the spring was nose tackle DJ Dale, a 6-3, 308-pound early-enrollee Clay-Chalkville High School who started the A-Day game with the first-team defense.

“He’s a great athlete,” Mathis said of Dale. “He came in and he’s been working ever since. He’s a perfect fit for our defense. He’s been working his butt off.

"[Credit] to whoever his high school coach was and whoever he trained with.”

(Dale’s high school coach his senior year was Drew Gilmer.)

Another young lineman already turning some heads is end Antonio Alfano (6-4, 285). The former 5-star prospect didn't make much noise during the spring, but is quickly acclimating to the college game.

“Oh yeah, he’s got a lot of work to do just like everybody else. He’s coming along. He’s learning,” Mathis said. "He’s real fast. It takes time.

"Freshmen, you’ve got to be patient with them. He’s coming along. He’s got a lot of work to do just like the other guys do.”

Similar to what's going on in the secondary, were the versatility of players like senior Shyheim Carter and sophomore Patrick Surtain II is giving the coaching staff a lot of options, Mathis can play several positions on the defensive front.

The Monroe, La., product can line up at nose tackle or end in the various Alabama schemes, and adjust on the fly.

“Right now I’ve been playing kind of like both positions,” Mathis said. “Rotating, getting it all in and just learning. Just still growing [as a player] as I get older. I want to get all positions down so I can help out as much as I can.”

That type of attitude is probably music to the ears of first-year position coach Brian Baker and Nick Saban.