Jaylen Moody evaluated Alabama's shutout defensive performance vs Utah State

Alabama opened the season with a commanding 55-0 victory over Utah State, in a game where their offense and defense shined. Linebacker Jaylen Moody spoke after the game about the play of the Crimson Tide defensive unit in their shutout performance.

“I think tonight was a good night, I think we showed that we can definitely shut out a team if we come out and do what we’re supposed to do. I thought the defense as a whole played as a unit, went out there and executed the calls coach gave us and we just did a good job of that tonight,” Moody said.

Shutouts are not easy to come by, and the Crimson Tide haven’t had one since their 2020 versus Mississippi State. Moody was asked if the shutout ever came across the minds of him or the defense at any point during their game Saturday.

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“I mean at the end of the day we’re still trying to take it one play at a time and if we go out there and do that, obviously we can do what we do tonight. I just think obviously we don’t try to focus on the shutout, we just focus on play-to-play, but us doing that tonight that’s what we got,” Moody said.

Moody made his first start Saturday for Alabama, serving primarily in a special teams and reserve linebacker role during his career. The redshirt senior led the team in tackles in his debut with six, also recording a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry. Moody and the Crimson Tide defense shut out a Utah State team that was one of the highest scoring offenses in the Mountain West last season averaging 32.6 per game, and will look to shutout a Texas offense that’s fresh off of a 52 point game versus Louisiana-Monroe.

Jaylen Moody reveals his advice to younger players on Alabama roster

Alabama linebacker Jaylen Moody enters this season as a redshirt senior and veteran leader for the Crimson Tide. Following a practice last week, head coach Nick Saban showed some frustration with the play of some of his younger players, and Moody gave his insight on being one of those younger players once before.

“Coach Saban, he wants the best out of us and a lot times as players and young guys you want to do that. You could put a lot of unwanted pressure on yourself at times that you don’t need to do and sometimes I think we all do that as players,” Moody said.

Moody has spent his four years at Alabama as a backup linebacker and a key contributor on their special teams units. Moody has not started a game yet for Alabama, but is expected to this season alongside linebackers Will Anderson and Henry To’oTo’o. Moody’s been trusting the process during his career, and gave his advice to the Crimson Tide’s younger players from his experience having to work his way up on the roster and through hard times.

“And so as a young guy my message to them would be to just go out there and just put your best version of yourself out there. Whatever your job is to do, go out there and do that and do it at your best ability. As far as that, that’s all you can control, if you know you did your best that’s all you can live with and you just got to go about it that way,” Moody said.