Jumbo Package: Alabama defense focused on slowing FSU QB Ashton Daniels

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Happy Gump Day, everyone. Alabama is coming off of a resounding second half performance in Lexington, and now prepares for a visit from Florida State. TE Kaleb Edwards believes that this squad has the right makeup.

On Tuesday, Crimson Tide tight end Kaleb Edwards said it was an encouraging sign that Alabama was able to push through the adversity for the win on the road.

“I think that just shows our mentality and just the standard that we have here,” Edwards told reporters after practice. “And I think just how much we’ve worked on it and just fighting through hard times and getting punched and getting back up and keep throwing punches back.”

Last season’s Alabama team wasn’t as responsive to adversity. When down early in the 2025 season-opener against a less talented Florida State team, the Crimson Tide folded.

Count Kirk Herbstreit among Tide believers.

Speaking on his show “Nonstop,” Herbstreit emphasized how he has been “really impressed” with the Crimson Tide in the first two weeks of the season. He would emphasize the win over the Wildcats this past Saturday, citing how tough Kentucky was playing them at home.

“I was really impressed with Alabama, honestly, because Alabama continues to show how challenging it is after the Nick Saban-era, based on the optics and the perception,” Herbstreit said. “And they went into that environment … and Kentucky kept coming. I mean, they just kept playing them … I mean, Kentucky’s winning this game at halftime … and then Alabama, to their credit, you got an inexperienced quarterback, throws a couple picks. They’re on the road, but Daniel Hill over 100 yards rushing; they took the crowd out of the game.

Kalen DeBoer is predictably not focused on a revenge angle this week.

“In our minds, this is the 2026 team,” DeBoer said when asked if he sees this rematch that way. “It’s the most important game of the season right now because it’s the next one. But there are certainly guys who remember how it felt. So I want it to be about us and our improvement in this season, as far as what truly is inward on us.”

The Crimson Tide (2-0) passed their first road test of 2026 last week. After trailing 17-13 at halftime of its Southeastern Conference opener at Kentucky, Alabama outscored the Wildcats 32-0 in the second half to turn a nail-biter into a runaway 45-17 win.

Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell turned the ball over three times in the first half (two interceptions, one strip sack) but settled in to complete 16 of 23 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown for the game.

He was again backed by a strong running game. Daniel Hill (104 yards, 1 TD) anchors a ground game that is averaging 191 yards per contest.

“He’s earned every carry he’s gotten. He’s worked hard for it,” DeBoer said of Hill, a third-year player who has stepped into a starting role. “I’m excited, I’m happy for his success, because he’s worked and stayed the course.”

Looking inward is the right approach. How you play is exponentially more important than who you play.

Caleb Woodson will be charged with chasing around FSU QB Ashton Daniels, who threw for 259 yards and ran for 108 against Alabama on the pasture last season. He sounds ready to go.

Ashton Daniels is in his first year with Florida State after transferring from Auburn. He quarterbacked the Tigers in the Iron Bowl in 2025.

Now, he will do so again against No. 10 Alabama on Saturday (2:30 p.m., ABC) at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

“I just know he’s good on his feet,” Woodson said. “We’ve got to make sure we can contain him.”

That will more than likely be a responsibility for Woodson. As a linebacker, he has shown an ability to make plays all over the field. Against Kentucky, he tallied 12 tackles and two sacks.

“They’ve got a running quarterback, so we’ve got to make sure we do a good job containing him,” Woodson said. “Other than that, good offense. Good scheme. So we’ve got to be ready for it.

Zabien Brown fully expects Florida State’s best again coming off of a bye week.

“We’re Bama, that’s what we expect from everybody,” Brown told reporters on Tuesday morning. “We’re everybody’s Super Bowl, and we expect to get everybody’s best shot. We want nothing less.

Florida State gave Alabama its best shot a season ago in the 31-17 upset that saw Seminoles’ fans dancing on the grass after they stormed the field. While much of this year’s Alabama roster was with the Crimson Tide last season in Tallahassee, some of the key contributors weren’t. What is his message to those who will see Florida State for the first time?

“I’m sure they’ve seen it all over the media, so it’s not something that needs to be overly brought up, but everybody knows about it.”

The defense as a whole has set the standard for the 2026 squad.

The encouraging part goes beyond the final yardage. Alabama expected its defensive transfer class to give Wommack more size, experience and flexibility near the line. The first two games have made that expectation quite literal.

Wommack made block destruction a preseason priority. After Alabama’s sixth August practice, he told reporters, “That’s something that we’ve really emphasized.” The first two games made that emphasis very clear.

Caleb Woodson delivered 12 tackles and two sacks at Kentucky. Devan Thompkins added six tackles, two sacks and the forced fumble that helped Alabama take its first lead. Both players arrived through the transfer portal, and both have quickly become central pieces.

Woodson gave the unit’s approach a simple name after the win. “Swarm D is going to the ball every play,” he said. His description fits what Alabama has shown better than any complicated schematic label.

Last, we learned that the South Carolina game will be at night.

The Gamecocks (2-0) and Crimson Tide (2-0) will kick off at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26 on ESPN in what could be a face-off between two 3-0 SEC programs.

South Carolina still hasn’t beaten Alabama since that miraculous upset of the No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide in 2010, though USC had ripe opportunities to end that streak in each of the past two seasons. Two years ago, in what was LaNorris Sellers’ second-career road start, the Gamecocks squandered a fourth-quarter lead before scoring a last-minute touchdown, recovering the onside kick and nearly pulling off the unthinkable. The Gamecocks looked to have their revenge last season, up eight points late in the fourth quarter. But the Crimson Tide scored 15 points in 102 seconds and won in regulation.

Mark your calendars accordingly.

That’s about it for now. Have a great day.

Roll Tide.

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