Reports: Star Alabama MLB Dylan Moses out for season with torn ACL
Alabama will be missing one of its best defensive players for the entirety of the 2019 season.
Per multiple reports, including Rivals’ BamaInsider.com, MLB Dylan Moses suffered a torn ACL in one of his knees during practice on Tuesday. The news of a potentially serious injury for Moses was first reported by WJOX.
Moses was picked to be a preseason All-American by many outlets heading into the 2019 season. He was one of six returning starters on Alabama’s defense and led the Tide in tackles in 2018 with 86. He also had 3.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore.
Alabama coach Nick Saban confirmed that Moses had suffered a knee injury during an SEC teleconference appearance Wednesday morning.
Sounds like freshman Shane Lee will step in for Dylan Moses at Mike linebacker for Alabama.
Saban: "Shane Lee is the backup Mike and he's the guy that will have the opportunity to play now."— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) August 28, 2019
It’s a huge loss for the Tide by itself. And it’s even bigger when coupled with the potential serious knee injury that LB Joshua McMillon suffered earlier in August. McMillon was projected to start for the Tide, meaning that two of Alabama’s three starting linebackers could be out for the season.
Those injuries leave Anfernee Jennings as the only projected starter who is healthy entering the season. Jennings had 51 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 2018. Lee, the player Saban mentioned on the teleconference as stepping in for Moses at MLB, is a true freshman. He was a four-star recruit in the class of 2019 and was rated as the No. 2 middle linebacker in the class, according to Rivals.
Moses’ injury also comes after it was reported that four Alabama players would miss at least part of Saturday’s game against Duke due to suspension. RBs Najee Harris and Brian Robinson are among the suspended as well as LB Terrell Lewis and WR DeVonta Smith. Throw in Lewis’ first-half absence against the Blue Devils and Alabama is going to be shorthanded at linebacker for at least a half on Saturday.
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Nick Bromberg is a writer for Yahoo Sports.
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