Injured Alabama LB Deontae Lawson set to miss spring practice

Injured linebacker Deontae Lawson will miss Alabama’s spring practice, he told the Crimson Tide Sports Network in an interview published on Thursday. Lawson suffered a season-ending knee injury in Alabama’s loss at Oklahoma and won’t be ready to go in March.

“It will be until fall camp, definitely,” Lawson said. “Yeah, it’ll be until fall camp. I’ll definitely try to stay around as much as I can, obviously. But yeah, before I’m active, probably fall camp.”

Lawson announced earlier this month that he would pass on entering the 2025 NFL Draft and return to Tuscaloosa for a fifth and final season. In his interview with CTSN’s Roger Hoover, he said the injury altered his initial plan of turning pro after the 2024 campaign.

“I was planning on that being it,” Lawson said. “I was going to lay it all out and see what happens. That’s what I did, I feel like. It didn’t go that way. It was definitely tough, definitely something that I think hit me in a different way. It really opened my eyes. I don’t know, you never really know how much you miss the game for real and just miss doing team activities and stuff until you’re really not doing it.

“I felt it before, but being out and just knowing you’re out, for a minute, it really takes a toll on you. I really got closer to God. He’s showing me a lot of different things, like, just my mindset, my habits. He’s definitely moving in my life right now, and I’m enjoying the ride. Even though I’m not working out like I want to right now, but every day I’m attacking rehab like it’s no tomorrow. I know I’ll just be better from this.”

While he won’t be on the field for Alabama’s 14 spring practices and A-Day Game, Lawson did say he expected to start working on the Tide’s anti-gravity treadmill next month.

“Just take it day-to-day,” Lawson said. “I know I’ll be pretty isolated, so do whatever I can when I’m around the guys. I always give my wisdom of course and share my experience, but even during rehab, they see me working out during rehab, they’re going to know, yeah, he’s not playing. That’s just how I’m attacking the day.”

With Lawson out, Alabama will most likely lean on Justin Jefferson, who was rewarded a fifth year of eligibility, and Colorado transfer Nikahi Hill-Green. The latter committed to the Crimson Tide this offseason and could be a key defensive addition this fall. His presence with Lawson absent during spring drills will be significant for the Alabama defense.

“I talked to Nikhai, the guy from Colorado, and he just seems like an intelligent guy,” Lawson said. “He’s always in there taking care of his body, doing extra work. I know he’ll be ready to go.”

Lawson, one of four team captains this past season, is one of 11 players who chose to return to Alabama rather than enter the draft. He told CTSN, “I don’t feel accomplished here yet.”

“I came to Alabama to win championships,” Lawson said. “I think I won one championship in football, and it was like in peewee, I was probably 12 years old or something. So it’s just different at this level, and not winning in high school but getting so close. 

“I just feel like it’s just not over yet. You never know what the future holds, but I know I’m gonna do everything to get that national championship because I remember last year, I was saying I don’t wanna leave this place without winning a national championship, and I really meant that.

“So I’ll give it one last ride and just lay it all out.”

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