Let's put some context into this.
In '17 as a true freshman he had 17 snaps with the 1's up until Mercer. An injury to Hamilton gave him his first start against Auburn. He didn't play against UGA or Clemson to end that season because Terrell Lewis returned from injury for the last couple of games of that season. Lewis, starting outside 'backer this season.
You can't take '18 and define his ability at MIKE. He played inside and outside last year—again, a move driven by injury. Now, as a sophomore he did earn 2nd team honors in the SEC and Walter Camp (I believe.) Remember, he was one of the five finalist for the Butkus award last year (the one White won and he's in the league.) I'm struggling with overhyped seeing this out of a sophomore.
Whose expectations are we looking at here? Yours?
He's a Junior. Based on what I've seen and mentioned here I'd say he's progressing as well as a lot of the linebackers I've seen over the years. Seriously, can you name the number of linebackers that started at Bama as sophomores? Hamilton was one...the guy Moses replaced due to injury when SDH was a junior. (I think Hamilton had 25 or so snaps as a frosh, started as a sophomore.) Foster, didn't start until his junior year. CJ Mosley, didn't start until his senior year.
Now, I could ask if we should take the opinions of the coaches in the SEC when they select their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd teams. I don't think that's anything other than a rhetorical question. That being said ...
The SEC has just announced the 2019 Preseason Coaches All-SEC football team.
LB — Dylan Moses, Alabama
LB — Erroll Thompson, Mississippi State
LB — Cale Garrett, Missouri
IF we go by the coaches opinions the nod goes to Bama in the linebacking corps.
.
