Alabama defensive analyst Tosh Lupoi is expected to be promoted to the Crimson Tide’s outside linebackers coach, according to a source.

Lupoi, 33, is considered one of the nation’s top recruiters. His promotion would allow Alabama coach Nick Saban to tap further into Lupoi’s strong West Coast connections. Lupoi has already been recruiting off-campus for the Crimson Tide recently.

Those new duties came earlier this month after the departures of former inside linebackers coach Kevin Steele (LSU defensive coordinator) and outside linebackers coach Lance Thompson (Auburn linebackers coach).

Lupoi came to Tuscaloosa last spring after the NCAA announced it would not take action regarding allegations that he paid $4,500 for tutoring and online classes for a recruit while an assistant at Washington. Lupoi was defensive line coach for the Huskies from 2012-13 under then-Washington coach Steve Sarkisian.

But when Sarkisian left to become USC coach in late 2013, he didn’t take Lupoi with him, later admitting the allegations against Lupoi played a role in the decision. Prior to Washington, Lupoi was defensive line coach at his alma mater, California, from 2008-11.

A product of storied De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif, he was a defensive lineman for the Golden Bears from 2000-05 and was a graduate assistant for the program from 2006-07. He was named Recruiter of the Year in 2010 by Rivals.com.

This past season, an SEC staffer told The Inside Read that Lupoi has been instrumental in Alabama’s current recruiting class that is ranked as the nation’s best. The staffer described Lupoi as a “recruiting beast.”

“He’s been a big asset for [them],” an SEC staffer told The Inside Read. “Tosh has relationships across the country with recruits.”

As a defensive analyst, Lupoi had previously not been allowed to recruit off-campus per NCAA rules, but could have contact with recruits under certain scenarios. That changed when Alabama designated him to recruit off-campus after the departures of Steele and Thompson.

Lupoi has injected youth into a Crimson Tide staff that, excluding wide receivers coach Billy Napier, is either pushing or over 40 years of age.

“It’s been a big deal for Alabama as far as trying to stay on top,” the staffer said. “With Ole Miss and Auburn getting all these good classes the last few years, he’s been the younger guy with experience that’s helped them.”