Dylana Moses (18) and Da'Ron Payne (94) combine to sack LSU quarterback Danny Etling. Photo | Getty Images

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Dylan Moses muscled his way past a double-team before barreling into LSU quarterback Danny Etling, delivering what was the final blow to his former hometown team last season.

The Baton Rouge, La., native waved his arms in a state of delirium. Who could have blamed him? For Moses, that was more than a sack. It was the moment he knew he made it at Alabama. The former five-star has been the subject of headlines ever since he received his first college offer in the eighth grade. The 6-foot-3, 232-pound linebacker was described as a “freak athlete” on his bio page on Alabama’s official website. Entering college rated as the No. 32 player in the 2017 class, he came to the Crimson Tide with freakish expectations as well. ICYMI: What does it mean: DJ Dale commits to Alabama However, as many former five-stars soon find out, success at Alabama doesn’t come easy. Moses saw limited playing time during his first seven games before stepping into a more extensive role against LSU as linebackers Mack Wilson and Shaun Dion Hamilton both went down with injuries. The game-clinching sack against the Tigers was a coronation of sorts for the young linebacker. Moses rotated with Keith Holcombe at the Will linebacker position the following week against Mississippi State before earning his first-career start against Mercer. He made the most of the opportunity, tallying 11 tackles, four for a loss, with an interception. “He played phenomenal,” former Alabama safety Hootie Jones said after the game. “I ain’t seen no freshman since I been here play like he played tonight.” Spurred on by his big performance, Moses racked up a game-high 10 tackles during his second career start against Auburn in the Iron Bowl. Despite the disappointing loss to the Tigers, the promise of starring in his first College Football Playoff had Moses riding high. “It took me eight games to get to where I needed to be,” Moses recalled following Alabama’s A-Day game last month. “Once I got past the LSU game, I started getting my feet wet. I got to Mercer, did what I did there and then Auburn to top it off.”

Toughest battles, strongest soldiers

Tomeka Murray picked up the phone and could instantly hear the disappointment in her son’s voice. While preparing for Alabama’s College Football Playoff semifinal game against Clemson, Moses landed awkwardly on his left foot during practice, resulting in a Jones fracture that forced him to miss the remainder of the season. The news was especially disheartening to the freshman linebacker, considering the Sugar Bowl matchup against Clemson was supposed to be a chance to show out in front of friends and family back in his home state. Moses had played in New Orleans’ Mercedes-Benz Superdome during high school but always dreamed of making it there on the college stage. For a moment, he shared his disbelief with his mother before falling back to a familiar phrase. “Dylan is really self-motivated, and he’s really big on his faith,” Murray told BamaInsider.com. “He just kept telling me everything happens for a reason. His favorite saying is ‘God doesn’t give you anything you can’t bear. He gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers.’ He says that a lot, so I kept on reminding him of that.” Moses was one of seven linebackers to miss time due to injuries last year. As disappointing as it was to watch the national championship game from the sideline, he had the support of several teammates who had been there before. “I just told him ‘You’ve got to be patient. The important part about it is to make sure you’re healthy and back to 100 percent before you actually come back,'” former Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans told BamaInsider.com. “I told him when he does come back the work doubles, if not triples, in order to get back to where you were or better before the injury.” By the looks of things, Moses has done just that. “It was hard on me at first, but going through that made me grow as a person and as a player,” Moses said. “Now I’m ready to be a leader.”

Looking the part

Moses is modeling more than just his recovery after Evans. Switching to the No. 32 previously worn by the All-American last season, he resembled Evans during A-Day, finishing with a team-high 10 tackles. “He’s very physical, he can definitely impose his will on his opponents,” Evans said. “He plays the game the way it's supposed to be played. I also told him just to be himself and just play his game. I think everything else will take care of itself.” Evans praised Moses for his versatility on the field, a trait both defenders share. This season the young linebacker will take on his predecessor’s role in Alabama’s defense, playing in the middle out of base and nickel packages while shifting to the outside for Alabama’s “Dime Rabbits” package. “I always played in the box, Mike or Will,” Moses said. “I was always used to running things down, not coming off the edge. I hadn’t come off the edge before I came to Alabama. I’m comfortable with that now. I feel like I learned a lot by being Rashaan’s backup last season. I’ve played it all. I think basically I know the defense inside-out.” Knowing Alabama’s system is just half the job. In order to truly fill the hole left behind by Evans, Moses knows he must also replace the permanent team captain’s presence in the locker room as well. “Being at Alabama, linebackers are really the leaders of the defense, so naturally we’re going to be the leaders,” Moses said. “Just as far as me and where I come from, me being an athlete, that was always my nature. Not being vocal, but doing what I was supposed to do. “There are different types of leaders out there. There are ones who are vocal, getting in everybody’s face and there are ones that are quiet and do what they are supposed to do.”

A dynamic duo

labama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban talks with defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick (29), linebacker Dylan Moses (8) and linebacker Mack Wilson (30) on the sidelines in the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. Photo | USA Today

If Moses wants any help fine-tuning his communication skills, he only needs to look to his side. This season he will be paired next to always vocal linebacker Mack Wilson in the center of Alabama’s defense.

Like Moses, Wilson has just two starts to his name. However, the rising junior has made just as much of an impact as his younger teammate. Making his first-career start in the Sugar Bowl against Clemson, he tallied six stops and returned an interception 18 yards for a touchdown. During the national championship against Georgia, he recorded a career-high 12 tackles to lead the team. “I think the more they play, the more confident they'll get. Because we look at them as guys that are starters,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said during Alabama’s spring camp. “Both of them started a couple games last year because of injuries, and then they got injured themselves. They weren't able to play as much as they could have played and would have played. I think to get them the confidence that they can get out there and run things with confidence is going to be something that we need to do on a consistent basis." Moses is anxious to spend more time on the field alongside his five-star teammate next season. “My dynamic with him is like a 1-2 punch,” Moses said of Wilson. “He plays off of me, I play off of him. I feel like we’re a deadly force. If we play on the same page and are doing the things we need to do then I think we can wreck shop in the SEC.” Moses will have to wait four months before he can return to the field for Alabama’s season-opener against Louisville on Sept. 1 inside of Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. After that, he plans on wasting no time picking up where he left off. “I’m very hungry,” Moses said. “I know this is the year for me. Everybody else got their names out there. I got my name out there the last couple of games of the season, but now I’ve got a whole season with Mack along my side. I’m ready to go for it all.”

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