Deontae Lawson injury update: Malachi Moore, Kalen DeBoer give latest, reflect on impact

When Alabama takes on Auburn in Saturday’s Iron Bowl, the Crimson Tide will be without Deontae Lawson. He suffered an injury last week against Oklahoma that ended his season, and Malachi Moore confirmed his teammate had surgery on Tuesday.

Moore joined head coach Kalen DeBoer for the weekly Hey Coach and The Kalen DeBoer Show at Baumhower’s Victory Grille in Tuscaloosa, where he said he spoke with Lawson for more than an hour. The two developed a close relationship during their time in Tuscaloosa, and Moore went so far as to call Lawson his favorite teammate when asked by Chris Stewart.

“We’ve just been so tight ever since we got to college and he got to college,” Moore said. “We always talk about everything – life, football, anything. Blood couldn’t make us any closer. When he went out this past weekend, it hurt all of us because he’s such an important piece to this team, not only as a football player, but as a person. Just to see a brother down, it hurts your heart.

“We have a great relationship. I think I was on the phone with him for, like, almost an hour yesterday after he got done with surgery. I’d say D-Law’s probably my favorite teammate.”

Lawson is one of the pillars of the Alabama defense and a holdover from the Nick Saban era. He put up the best numbers of his career this season, totaling 76 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks and his first career interception prior to his injury.

Kalen DeBoer: Deontae Lawson ‘was voted a captain for a reason’

In the moments after he hit the turf, Kalen DeBoer saw a moment that summed up the relationship between Deontae Lawson and Malachi Moore. That’s why he wasn’t surprised Moore chose Lawson as his favorite teammate.

“I remember looking across the field, seeing Deontae walk. … I remember glancing around and seeing Malachi take one last look at Deontae and having a feeling about him that I could read, just understanding how close they were,” DeBoer said. “And that’s the guys you mentioned, that’s how close these guys are. They’ve been through a lot together, and these two in particular, on the same side of the ball.”

As one of the leaders who stuck around after the coaching transition, Lawson had a strong impact on the Alabama program. Although he can’t be on the field, DeBoer knows he’ll find a way to get to Bryant-Denny Stadium in some way, shape or form. That’s how much Lawson cares about the team.

“Deontae, he was voted a captain for a reason,” DeBoer said. “Just his influence. He’s a special guy. Got a chance to talk with him probably for 30 minutes here today. He loves this team, and he’s hurting personally, physically, mentally a little bit just because he can’t be out there with them.

“He wants nothing more than for these guys to go out and be successful on Saturday, even if it’s with him not out there on the field. He’ll find a way to be there. I know that.”