For a fifth consecutive offseason, BamaOnLine is counting down Alabama’s top 25 most important players ahead of the Crimson Tide’s fast-approaching fall camp and 2019 football season.

We continue our rankings with freshman defensive tackle DJ Dale at No. 20.

*** Breakdown of Alabama’s Top-25 Most Important Players for 2019: Two things went into consideration in this breakdown. One was how much the player would see the field this fall. With that condition, the list is primarily made up of starters. The second aspect is the player’s importance to the team, meaning if they are replacing a starter at a key position and how hard it would be to replace them should something occur to force them out of commission.

DALE PROFILE

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 314 pounds

Hometown: Pinson, Ala.

High School: Clay-Chalkville

247Sports Composite ranking: 4-star (2019)

- No. 254 nationally

- No. 18 defensive tackle

- No. 9 in state of Alabama

2019 OUTLOOK

Dale joined Alabama’s football program during the Crimson Tide’s preparation for the College Football Playoff and was one of 15 early enrollees on campus for spring practice. And it didn’t take long for the true freshman to impress his teammates and coaches and work his way up to playing with the first-team defense following the first of three scrimmages for the rest of the spring.

Dale was seen working at nose tackle in between senior Raekwon Davis and junior LaBryan Ray ahead of scrimmage No. 2 and ended up starting in the A-Day Game to cap the 15-practice slate. The newcomer filled in at a spot left vacant by No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft Quinnen Williams -- replacing redshirt sophomore Phidarian Mathis, who started the spring at nose.

But the young Dale didn’t look like a player that had only been in college a couple of months.

“For a young guy, he plays like he’s been here for a while,” Davis said of Dale. “He’s great. He’s a great learner. You can teach him quick. I mean, he came in good, like good with his technique. … (His maturity) shows a lot. It shows that if a hard game’s on the line, I would trust him on my side. It tells me a lot about him. He’s just a hard-working kid. He came in just grinding.”

Davis also went as far to say Dale reminds him of former Alabama nose tackle Daron Payne.

WHY NO. 20?

Dale was one of the surprises of the spring, coming in and earning first-team reps before the A-Day Game kicked off. Mathis was a player that saw the field as a key reserve last year and has the size (6-foot-4, 317 pounds) to man the middle. Many believed he could replace the void left behind by Williams. And then there were two other freshmen -- Antonio Alfano and Justin Eboigbe -- that arrived at UA as higher-rated recruits and with more buzz surrounding their names.

But it was Dale that climbed to the top of the pecking order this spring. But now the question entering preseason camp will be can he hold onto that spot until the season starts? Mathis will have an entire summer to work on his craft, and there are three other freshmen that joined the program late last month that could find their way onto the field early -- two of which that can play inside in Ishmael Sopsher and Byron Young. They will look to compete as soon as fall practices begin.

So, why No. 20 for Dale? Because of the competition he will face in the coming months. There is a lot of football between now and the Aug. 31 opener against Duke, and with replenished depth along the defensive line, the Tide has options. Do I think Dale can hold onto the spot in the middle of that D-line until kickoff? Absolutely. I’m not questioning him anymore after what he was able to do in the spring. But simply put, he will be facing some worthy challengers come August.

WHAT SAY YOU?

*** Below are the players that are ranked below Dale at No. 20.

25. PKs Joseph Bulovas and Will Reichard

24. QBs Mac Jones and Taulia Tagovailoa

23. OL Matt Womack

22. WR DeVonta Smith

21. S Jared Mayden

Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).

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