Crimson Tide lands major talent on defensive line

College football’s early signing period is here and transfer portal moves are in full swing, and when it comes to the defensive front, the Alabama Crimson Tide is reloading in preparation for the departure of a talented group of pass rushers.

Alabama lands five-star Texas A&M transfer LT Overton - TideIllustrated

Through the transfer portal, Alabama landed former five-star recruit LT Overton from Texas A&M, a lineman who “should provide immediate depth and veteran presence to Alabama’s defensive front,” as Nick Alvarez wrote for AL.com.

Joining Overton as new arrivals to the defensive line are two recruits, four-star Jeremiah Beaman and three-star Isaia Faga, and possibly Aggie teammate Fadil Diggs, who visited Tuscaloosa this past weekend. Also new to Tuscaloosa are two four-star edge rushers: Sterling Dixon, who starred in-state at Spanish Fort, and Jayshawn Ross of Kansas City, Missouri.

The fresh faces will likely be much appreciated by defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, as four of the Crimson Tide’s top pass rushers are seniors and juniors likely to be picked early in the NFL draft.

Combined, linebackers Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell and linemen Justin Eboigbe and Tim Smith have 26 sacks this season.

Athleticism of Texas A&M DE LT Overton has made him useful in both pass rush and coverage

With those likely departures, linebackers Deontae Lawson and Trezmen Marshall will be the Tide’s most experienced pass rushers, though this season, they’ve only combined for 5.5 sacks. When it comes to the defensive linemen, junior Jah-Marien Latham is the top returning player with 1.5 sacks in 2023.

That’s a lot of production to replace, but between new recruits and working the portal, the talent appears to be enough to meet Alabama’s standard. The only question that remains is which of the fresh faces will win out in camp and practices to earn snaps come next fall.

Petty Leadership: David Platt refused to invite Lon Solomon to return and preach as Pastor Emeritus at McLean Bible Church, according to a former elder’s letter uncovered during a legal fight to force MBC to accountability.

How petty was David Platt when he took over McLean Bible Church? He made sure to never invite Lon Solomon, Pastor Emeritus, back to preach. Ever. We know this via an explosive 2021 letter sent to elders from recently retired elder Mark Gottlieb. Gottlieb made it clear that Lon Solomon wanted to return to the pulpit to preach at McLean Bible Church occasionally, but that David Platt was blocking it. (To understand how the lawsuit came about and what was uncovered see this summary of the case against McLean Bible Church.)

According to the former elder’s letter to Platt and the elder board in 2021, (Gottlieb rotated off the elder board in 2020) rumors were swirling that Lon Solomon had sinned and that was why McLean Bible Church had never invited him to return to preach.

What did Platt do about those rumors? Nothing. He persisted in refusing to have Lon Solomon back to speak to his beloved church.

According to the letter written by Mark Gottlieb and uncovered by subpoena, “If you remember, Lon promised to be back and preach occasionally. Yet David never invited Lon back to preach. At least 3 times over the next year–I would bring this up at an elder meeting. David’s excuse being he wanted Lon back to be recognized, and that Lon didn’t want to be recognized–he wanted to preach–as he promised. Two years ago–Lon confirmed with me when I saw him at some event that he has never been invited back to preach. I brought up the fact to the elders that this is not about what David or Lon wants–it’s about what’s right. And about helping Lon ‘finish well’ as he always hoped. David didn’t want him back–and the elders did nothing.” (emphasis added)

*Former McLean Bible Church elder details how David Platt refused to allow Lon Solomon back into the pulpit to preach.*

The fact that Lon Solomon was never invited back to speak to the congregation raised all sorts of uncomfortable questions.

According to Gottlieb’s letter, “So, the rumor mill continued over the years about what sin Lon must have committed since MBC wouldn’t invite him back. I as an elder felt embarrassed. We should all be embarrassed for not helping Lon finish well.”

There was no reason for Lon Solomon not to return other than David Platt. So, was it because David knew Lon would have prevented his liberal agenda from moving forward at MBC? Maybe if Solomon was present, his conviction that MBC “preach the whole Bible and nothing but the Bible” would be incompatible with David’s Woke theology? Was it because Lon Solomon was Jewish?

This was not the only insult to the former beloved pastor from David Platt. Other demands under Platt’s toxic leadership included the removal of all of Lon Solomon’s sermons from the church website and the removal of many of his sermons and books from the church bookstore.

One member described it as David’s attempt to erase Lon Solmon from McLean Bible Church. “Every trace of Lon Solomon was removed from the church,” a longtime church member and attender said. “And they did a good job of it.”