LUKE METZ STEPS INTO LARGER ROLE FOR ALABAMA DEFENSE

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- On Saturday, during Alabama's 48-10 win over ECU, sophomore linebacker Luke Metz made his first collegiate start. Get our free mobile app GET OUR FREE MOBILE APP 'I mean, it was great,' Metz said of his first career start. 'I'm just glad my teammates trust me out there. It felt really natural out there, so it was a good start.' Metz, a native of Hoschton, Georgia, was part of the Crimson Tide's 2025 class and was ranked as a three-star recruit. Last season, he primarily played special teams, with just 23 snaps on the defensive side of the ball. But he was able to sit behind veterans Deontae Lawson and Nikhai Hill-Green, which helped him not only develop as a player but also as a vocal leader for the Crimson Tide's 2026 defense. 'Luke has really taken great ownership of the way that we're supposed to communicate as a linebacking core,' Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said. 'He had great leadership in that from Deontae Lawson and Nikhai Hill-Green when they were here.' Metz brings size to the Crimson Tide's defense at 6-foot-3-inches and 235 pounds, with elite off-ball instincts, and brings a level of energy you can't teach. Wommack credits the 19-year-old's maturity to linebacker coach Chuck Morrell. 'I think he has taken that to another level, and Chuck Morrell has done a fantastic job with those guys,' Wommack said. 'We talk about the way we communicate as a linebacking core needs to be demonstrative. It needs to be, that is intimidating to the other side of the ball when you communicate like that, and then we wanna play the game with anticipation.' In Metz's first career start, he tallied two tackles, as well as two assisted tackles, with a 62.4% defensive grade and a 65.2% pressure grade according to PFF. Metz and the Crimson Tide will be back in action on Saturday as they head to Lexington to take on Kentucky to open up SEC play. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC.