Alabama football plays freshmen on defense, plain and simple. In two seasons under defensive coordinator Kane Wommack's tutelage, six freshmen have played at least 100 snaps on defense for the Crimson Tide, headlined by Zabien Brown and Dijon Lee Jr. earning prominent roles immediately in 2024 and 2025. With the season opener against East Carolina approaching, Wommack sees that same potential from two five-star freshmen in linebacker Xavier Griffin and defensive back Jireh Edwards. Griffin and Edwards join defensive back Jorden Edmonds as the Crimson Tide's three five-star defensive players in the 2026 class. Edmonds is out for a few weeks with an injury. Here's what Wommack said about both Griffin and Edwards. Xavier Griffin 'going to have a role for us' Griffin is turning heads early on in his Alabama career. Wommack said Griffin is already asked "to do multiple things" in the linebacker room, from pass rushing to continuing reps as a "stack backer" that he played at Gainesville High School in Georgia as a senior where Griffin "took his game, really, to another level," per Wommack. "(Alabama inside linebackers coach) Chuck Morrell’s done a fantastic job with him," Wommack said. "I came in here, whatever it was, 6 a.m. this morning, and they’re meeting one on one, spending time. We’re working to get him ready. I think he’s going to have a role for us this year. He’s doing a really nice job."
Griffin had 78 tackles, 12 tackles-for-loss and four sacks as a senior at Gainesville in 2025. What Jireh Edwards brings to Alabama defense Wommack called Edwards "one of the most instinctive playmakers I’ve ever seen coming out of high school." Very physical," Wommack said. "He’s got phenomenal tracking of the ball. His blitz IQ and awareness is really high, and so he can create production out of that package as well." But there is progress to be made, Wommack said, imploring Edwards to put "the whole thing together." "Jireh’s going to play for us, but how much does he play for us early in the season and in what situations?" Wommack said. "Those are the question marks we’ve really challenged him in like, can you put everything together that we can throw you out there on any given down? And he’s still working towards that.” Edwards, a 6-foot-2, 218-pound safety, had 92 tackles, 17 tackles-for0loss, six pass breakups and three forced fumbles as a junior at Saint Frances Academy in Maryland Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter or Instagram @colingaytnews. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: These five-star freshmen will play for Alabama football defense in 2026