TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama has typically had an “alpha dog” in the middle of its defense. But this year, due to injuries, its two most-experienced inside linebackers are sidelined indefinitely.

So, the Crimson Tide has had to look elsewhere for leadership, both on and off the field.

But it didn’t have to look far, as two of its veterans on defense have stepped up this fall.

“I think the two guys that have really sort of picked up the leadership part of it, setting a good example, really encouraging some of the young players are Anfernee Jennings and Xavier McKinney,” head coach Nick Saban said. “Those two guys have tried to pick up some of the slack when some of these other guys that were older, more experienced players who had leadership roles aren’t present. And I think both of those guys have played very well.

“They’re both Players of the Week and they’ve both had really good production. But I think what you don’t see is how they’re impacting and affecting other players on the team who probably need their support. It helps the younger players have confidence when they feel like the older players are confident in them.”

With as many as five true freshmen playing first-team snaps on the defensive side of the ball, Jennings and McKinney try to make sure everyone is on the same page in games. Whether at practice, on the field or on the sideline, they’re always trying to give the young players advice.

“Just making sure that they know what they’ve got, what they have to do, it builds their confidence up a little bit more,” McKinney said. “And when they make plays, going to celebrate with them. Little stuff like that, that matters with their confidence, and that helps them build from there.”

Jennings added: “It means a lot coming from (Saban), but I will always try to lead by example, always be someone young guys can come to and look at and ask for advice, anything like that.”

Through four games, the duo have been examples off the field, as well as on it. McKinney leads the team with 28 tackles, while Jennings leads the team in sacks (3.0) and tackles for loss (4.0).

Alabama defenders Anfernee Jennings and Xavier McKinney combine to make a tackle vs. Duke.

Even with their experience and production, it was always going to be difficult to replace a player like Dylan Moses, who led the team in tackles last year and was going to be the signal-caller of the defense before a knee injury ended his junior season. But Moses admitted that he looked at Jennings “like he’s the head guy on defense.” And other Alabama defensive players do that, too.

“Man, he’s a dog,” linebacker Terrell Lewis said. “He’s kind of proven himself around here. Anfernee, a lot of times even when I was younger, I would look at him as one of those physical guys, just like I would look at Ryan Anderson. And look at him and try to learn from his game and put it into mine as far as like setting the edge, being physical and just having that dog mentality.”

The same can be said about McKinney, who is quarterbacking the Crimson Tide’s secondary.

“He means a lot,” cornerback Patrick Surtain II said. “He’s an alpha dog on the team. Whenever he steps his game up, you can tell the whole defense steps their game up. He’s a special player -- not only his play but when he talks on the field, you know it brings other guys to step up their play, as well. He’s always been that alpha dog type of dude. He wants the team to shine.

“Just not off of his success, but as a whole team to contribute together as a whole unit.”

Together, Jennings and McKinney have brought strong leadership to a defense that is relying on several young players and is playing without guys that were expected to be leaders this season.

“It sucks, but it comes with it,” Jennings said. “I know those guys are working hard to get back on the field. But here, there’s a next-man-up mentality, so we have to do what we have to do.

“I mean, I always put those kinds of things on my shoulder because, I mean, we are all the defense. We all have to know the call, or we’re going to look bad. I always take that responsibility on myself with whoever is on the field. But I know Coach (Saban) is going to put the guys out there that he feels is ready to play, and I’m going to trust him.”

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