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Alabama linebacker Dillon Lee (25) works through drills during the Crimson Tide's third 2014 Spring football practice, Wednesday, March 19, 2014, at the Thomas-Drew Practice Facility in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.com)

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Reporters don't see much of Alabama's football practices, but the 15-20 minutes allotted per session is enough to see Dillon Lee on the move.

Shortly after Alabama broke from its stretching Wednesday, Lee led a line of outside linebackers as they went through one set of drills. When the whistle blew, Lee moved to his left and joined the inside linebackers. Eventually, he'd join the nickel defense.

After the Crimson Tide's third spring practice, Nick Saban said Lee was competing for a starting job. He didn't specify where, but the versatile Lee could be just what Alabama needs at a handful of spots in its rebuilding linebacking corps.

"I think Dillon Lee will be a really good player for us," Saban said. "I think he has a good understanding of what we want him to do. He runs well. He's got good size and plays good block protection, especially at the line of scrimmage."

Lee made an instant impact at Alabama, intercepting a deflected pass in the 2012 season opener at Michigan. He faded a bit into obscurity and ended his freshman season on a down note when he was sent home from the BCS National Championship because of a curfew violation.

The lesson was learned, as Lee bounced back from it with a productive sophomore campaign.

The opportunities for regular playing time weren't available at any of the first-team linebacker spots, but Lee made an impact as one of Alabama's hardest hitters on special teams and cleaned up whenever he was called upon in reserve duty. He finished with 16 tackles, a fumble recovery and a touchdown.

"I feel like I have a good shot to start in a couple different places on our defense, you know, have a bigger role and make an impact," Lee told AL.com in January.

Where that might be depends on how Alabama's linebacker rotation shakes out.

At inside linebacker in Alabama's base, he'd be competing against the likes of Reuben Foster and Reggie Ragland. The same cast of characters are likely in the mix for one of the linebacker spots when Alabama runs nickel, a position in which C.J. Mosley thrived as a sophomore and junior. Lee was often seen shadowing Mosley in nickel situations last season on the practice field.

There's also outside linebacker, where Alabama needs to fill the void left by Adrian Hubbard. Players such as Tim Williams, Xzavier Dickson and Ryan Anderson are also in the mix to start on the opposite side of Denzel Devall.

"Dillon is very versatile. Great guy. Very physical. Just an athlete," Devall said. "He's smart, and I believe he'll come in and do a great job for us."

It's early, and it's unclear where exactly he might be competing for starting repetitions, but Lee has earned some confidence from where it matters most.

"If he wins that job," Saban said, "he'll be able to do an outstanding job for us."