The “Mike” inside linebacker position is considered by many to be the quarterback of the defense.

In the past, this position has usually been reserved for a player who has spent at least two years in a Nick Saban defense. After spending most of their first season watching on the sidelines and learning as much as they can through game film, most linebackers spend a year in the “Will” position before a chance at the Mike. 

But not for freshman Shane Lee, who was thrust into the Mike role in his first season with the Crimson Tide. 

“He’s a really good player, even though he’s young,” senior defensive back Shyheim Carter said. “He’s still got a lot to learn and improve on, but he’s a really good player. He’s a starting linebacker as a freshman, and that speaks highly of him. I feel he can get the job done, whether tackling or making the right call or anything.”  

Lee’s ascension to a starting role on the Alabama defense came due to a season-ending injury to projected starter, junior Dylan Moses. 

Moses, a former five-star recruit, started two games in his freshman season before having a breakout season in his sophomore year, being named a finalist for the Butkus Award.

A reason for Moses’ productive season may be due in part to being paired up with former Mike linebacker and current Cleveland Browns linebacker Mack Wilson. The tandem worked well together, as the team ranked in the top 15 in total defense, yielding just over 18 points per game. Coming into the 2019 season, Alabama planned to have Moses take over the leadership for the defense prior to the injury. 

“Well, I think we have other good leaders on our team,” Saban said. “I felt horrible and a great loss and a great concern for Dylan [Moses] when he got hurt, as with any player. They’re all part of our team.

“And certainly injuries are a part of the game, but it’s also part of life. Things always don’t go exactly like you want and you like, and you have to be able to play the hand that’s dealt you, overcome adversity at times, and you can actually become stronger because of it. So, we have other guys on our team that are good leaders, and I think everybody has to step up and fill the role.”

Lee has stepped up and has flourished in his role. Through 10 games, Lee ranks third on the team in total tackles with 63 and in tackles for loss with 5.5. Despite the high production on the field, there have been some growing pains along the way. 

Saban said after the loss to LSU that the defense was doing a lot of “check with me’s” or looking over to the sidelines for instructions in calls and in audibles. Although receiving defensive signals on the sidelines is a normality in college football, experienced Mike linebackers may not have to rely on those signals throughout the course of the game.  

“I really see the maturity in him, from being all over the place when he was first announced as a starter,” senior safety Jared Mayden said. “Kind of at a young age, especially with the Alabama defense, it does take a while to learn. I just played corner, Star and safety, and I know it took me every bit of two-and-a-half, three years. And then to watch [former defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick] and those other guys go through it. And now you tell me a freshman linebacker, who not only has to get the coverages but has to make the defensive front changes. I knew he was overwhelmed, but the coaches helped him learn. We helped him gain confidence in calling, because you do need to call. But overall, he’s just getting mature. I think now you can see him not being so kind of confused or sporadic. He’s come into his own.”

His maturity was on display during the matchup against Mississippi State. On the first drive of the game, Lee dropped into zone coverage and picked off a telegraphed pass thrown by Tommy Stevens. Lee returned the ball to the Mississippi State 19-yard line before being tackled by Stevens, much to the amusement of his teammates. 

“That was big,” Mayden said. “First drive out, and you go get an interception. That’s probably something that also helped him calm down. Once you realize you can really play with everybody in the league, now you’re just getting to the thinking part … I know he didn’t score. There’s no reason he should’ve gotten tackled. You’re supposed to stiff-arm the quarterback or something. You can’t get tackled by the quarterback.”

Despite having more to learn about his position and how to avoid quarterbacks on interception returns, Lee’s development during his freshman season may be a step in the right direction for him becoming the next high-end inside linebacker at Alabama. 

“Well, Shane probably played one of his best games of the year [against Mississippi State], made a lot of plays and did a good job, a better job of tackling,” Saban said. “We still have the occasional mental error by some of the younger guys that show up, but I thought this was his best performance, most consistent game, and I see him sort of starting to develop confidence in what we’re asking him to do and how he’s going about doing it on a consistent basis.”