Alabama Crimson Tide Defensive Players To Watch vs. Ole Miss

The Alabama Crimson Tide's defense is headlined by All-American cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry amidst a flurry of departures for the 2023 NFL Draft.

Last season, the No. 13 Alabama Crimson Tide had one of the best defenses in the country led by current Ole Miss Rebels defensive coordinator Pete Golding — but it has taken a step back through three games in 2023.

In the season-opener against Middle Tennessee, Alabama showed no signs of those losses hindering its unit, surrendering seven points and 211 yards of total offense to the Blue Raiders.

Safety Caleb Downs is considered an honorable mention, missing the cut due to just having one career game under his belt but he looked as advertised against Middle Tennessee.

Here are three players on a loaded defense to keep an eye on when plays the No. 15 Rebels in week 4 of the 2023 season.

CB Kool-Aid McKinstry

McKinstry was the top cornerback and the No. 13 player in the 2022 cycle, getting into the mix of the Tide's defense as a freshman which led to him being named an Associated Press First Team All-American.

The then-freshman blossomed in 2022, recording 35 tackles, two for loss, a sack, an interception and a whopping 15 pass break-ups, which tied for the fourth-most in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

The Birmingham, Alabama, native has recorded nine tackles with two pass break-ups, as his 75.8 coverage grade is the second best of any Southeastern Conference cornerback behind Deantre Prince, according to Pro Football Focus.

McKinstry will likely be covering Tre Harris or Jordan Watkins Saturday, which would be fun showdowns between pairs of great players.

Along with cornerback Terrion Arnold — who is no slouch either leading the team with three pass break-ups — McKinstry will be responsible for limiting a pass defense that made or broke the Alabama defense last season.

In games where opposing offenses threw for at least 200 yards, the Crimson Tide were 5-1 but only outscored opponents by 60 points. When they limited opponents to 200 pass yards or less, they were 6-1 and outscored their opposition 336-95.

Last season, Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart threw for 212 yards and one touchdown.

OLB Dallas Turner

Will Anderson Jr. was without a doubt the biggest loss on the Crimson Tide's defense ahead of the 2023 season. Replacing 10 sacks and 17 tackles for loss, which were tied for 10th and 11th, respectively, won't be easy.

Enter outside linebacker, Dallas Turner.

Turner leads the Crimson Tide with 2.5 sacks through three games this season, while hitting the quarterback five times.

Like most of Alabama's linebackers, he is interchangeable, rushing off both ends of the offensive line which will require Ole Miss tackles Jayden Williams and Micah Pettus to know where No. 15 is on the field at all times.

ILB Deontae Lawson

There's a theme on this Alabama defense: players stepping up in replace of 2023 NFL Draft picks. Inside linebacker, Deontae Lawson, is another example of this.

Henry To'oTo'o was selected in the seventh round of this year's draft by the Houston Texans after anchoring the middle of the Crimson Tide's defense a year ago.

There was a lot to be desired in Alabama's boom-or-bust rush defense a season ago. In seven games last year, the Tide held opponents to less than 80 yards, but in the other six, the opposition ran for at least 180 yards and two touchdowns in each contest.

This is where Lawson will be a big help in filling To'oTo'o's void.

Lawson's 84.2 defensive grade this season is the seventh-most in the Football Bowl Subdivision of any player and the third-highest of any linebacker with at least 150 snaps played this season, according to PFF.

In last season's game against the Rebels, Lawson had six tackles and two pass breakups.