Defensive tackle Dee Liner, out of Muscle Shoals, Ala., has signed his letter of intent to play for Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Liner had a long recruitment process, delaying the announcement of his decision until signing day. He was originally committed to in-state rival Auburn, but eliminated the Tigers from his list when they fired head coach Gene Chizik.
Dee Liner signs with Alabama over Miami: Yes, his name is Dee Liner
Perhaps the most aptly named recruit of all time has made it official with the Tide.
“I have nothing but good things to say about everyone I got to know during the recruiting process,” he said on ESPNU. “I want to compete for championships every year.”
Alabama became the leader soon after for Liner, with Miami also garnering interest. Georgia hosted the tackle on a visit the last weekend before signing day, but it was tough to draw the Alabamian away from his home state.
Liner played on the edge for the most part in high school, but will step inside for Alabama. In doing so, he’ll go from having average quickness for a defensive end to excellent quickness for a tackle. He has a nice burst up the field, which will allow him to get into the backfield and disrupt plays. His speed will allow him to serve as a defensive end at times and not be a liability.
To go along with that speed and quickness, Liner does seem to read plays and move along the line to fill holes, an attribute that will serve him well as a defensive tackle.
His athletic ability is his greatest asset, but he will have to add some strength and size to play in SEC trenches. His weight is reported anywhere from 275 to 294, so how much strength he needs to add remains to be seen. Standing at well above 6 feet, he should have the body to easily fill in those pounds and become a force in the middle for the Crimson Tide.
Ratings: Consensus 4-star
Vitals: 6’3, 275
Other offers: Auburn, Kentucky and Miami
Twitter: @Liner_25
Recruitment timeline:
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