First Starts and Pep Talks | Alabama Crimson Tide Football News

Alabama linebacker Luke Metz made his first career start against East Carolina, stepping into the crucial “green dot” role calling defensive plays — nerves aside, he delivered a smooth performance with two tackles. A key moment came before warmups when fellow sophomore Keelon Russell gave him a quick pep talk, reminding him to just go out and do their thing. That simple encouragement helped Metz settle in, showcasing how peer support can make all the difference in high-pressure moments. Both players, part of Alabama’s 2025 recruiting class, exemplified leadership and chemistry on the field — a sign of strong team foundation ahead. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/0966f92c1d0bd44d