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DJ Dale reveals legacy he hopes Alabama defense will leave behind

On3-Social-Profile_GRAYby:On3 Staff Report•11/24/22
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Alabama defensive tackle DJ Dale and edge rusher Will Anderson line up during a game on Oct. 15, 2022. (Donald Page / Getty Images)

Alabama will conclude its regular season on Saturday with the annual Iron Bowl against Auburn. And while the Crimson Tide need some help if they hope to reach the College Football Playoff, this Alabama defense has already mostly established its legacy.

What legacy does veteran defensive tackle DJ Dale hope that is?

“Just a group of guys who play hard and play for each other,” Dale said. “If anything I’d say that’s what I want it to be. Everybody has grown pretty close, really not just over the years, just this year.”

The Crimson Tide have held opponents to 20 points or fewer seven times this season, ranking as one of the top defenses in the country statistically.

Alabama heads into the Iron Bowl with a top-25 defense in most categories. The defense ranks No. 10 nationally in passing efficiency defense, No. 11 in scoring defense (17.2 points per game), No. 14 in rushing defense (107.8 yards per game), No. 15 in total defense (303.7 yards per game) and No. 27 in passing defense (195.9 yards per game).

It’s not the stats Dale will remember, though. This Alabama defense’s legacy is about the bonds established.

“We’ve kind of built a brotherhood, and I just want to be known as a defense that played together and played hard for one another,” Dale said.

Alabama defense readying for improved Auburn run game

One easy way to maintain the legacy for the Alabama defense is to avoid losing to Auburn. And though the Crimson Tide enter as a 22.5-point favorite on Saturday, anything can happen if you don’t show up to play.

Auburn has had a significantly improved running game of late, too.

After averaging just 148.3 yards per game on the ground in the first six games of the season, the Tigers have averaged 252.4 yards per game in the last five.

Interim coach Carnell “Cadillac” Williams has helped instill a new edge offensively with the ground game, with the former Auburn star running back helping bring a new level of energy to the Plains.

Dale and the rest of his brotherhood will be looking to stamp out the optimism that newfound energy has produced at Auburn.

The two programs will kick off Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.