Alabama DL Dee Liner announces transfer
Former top recruit Dee Liner announced on Monday that he plans on transferring from Alabama.
Liner committed to Alabama in 2013 as a four-star recruit and the nation's No. 61 player, according to Rivals.com. As a sophomore in 2014, he appeared in three games and made one tackle. He was expected to redshirt in 2013 before entering for the final drive of an Oct. 26 game against Tennessee that year.
Before that Tennessee game, Saban hinted on his radio show that Liner could see the field for the first time. They were trying to develop him and keep him away from the game field, but depth was an issue. But playing would mean burning the redshirt.
"I hate this rule," Saban said then. "If a guy plays in one play in one game, you cannot redshirt him. It has to be total abstinence from playing the whole season. I wish they'd make a rule where a player could play, like for a medical (redshirt), if you play in less than half of the games in the first half of the season, you can still get your year back. ... I wish they'd do the same thing for freshman."
Liner appeared in four games and made three tackles in his two seasons with the Crimson Tide, who will return four key defensive linemen in 2015, making for a crowded position group.
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Liner is the second former top recruit from the Crimson Tide's 2013 signing class to transfer since last season ended. Running back Altee Tenpenny announced his plans to transfer in January.
- Mike Fiammetta
