2023 NFL Draft Profile: Alabama Defensive Tackle DJ Dale

BamaCentral is taking a long look at each of the Crimson Tide's 15 football prospects who could hear their names called during the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City on April 27-29.

When DJ Dale arrived in Tuscaloosa and participated in his first practices, there was an immediate buzz about him. 

Unfortunately, it was a bit misguided. 

The former All-State selection from nearby Clay-Chalkville High School in Pinson, Ala., found himself working in part with the first-team defense a lot of fans jumped the gun, if you will, on his potential. 

Could he be the next Marcell Dareus? Or Quinnen Williams?

Dale just wasn't that kind of player. 

He started 10 games as a true freshman (17 tackles, three for loss), and 12 of 13 appearances in the team's national championship season in 2020 (22 tackles, one for loss). 

Dale became more of a team leader during his four seasons with the Crimson Tide.

“The biggest difference this year is being more outspoken," he said. "I’ve always done the right things on and off the field. I think that’s who I am as a person. Being more outspoken and reaching out to guys, not just in my group. I’ve always had the impact on my group, but now I’m trying to touch other guys in different positions and on the other side of the ball.

“I think it happened naturally for me. I’ve been in a room with different leaders. For example my first year Raekwon Davis was kind of the guy and the last couple of years Phil Mathis was the guy. I try to take different things from them and learn from them as they tried to groom me into being a more outspoken leader.”

Nevertheless, Dale was mostly a rotational player by the end of his collegiate career. This past season he had 17 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss and 2.5 sacks. 

The good news for him is that every team in the league is looking for defensive linemen. But Dale will probably be a rotation player at the next level as well. 

Alabama Defensive Tackle DJ Dale

NFL Combine/Workout Details

Alabama Athletics

No. 94
Position: Defensive tackle
Ht: 6010
Wt: 302
Hand: 0968
Arm: 3278
Wing: 7858
40: b
DOB: 10/30/2000
Hometown: Birmingham, Ala.
High School: Clay-Chalkville

40-Yard Dash: 5.26 seconds
10-Yard Split: 1.81 seconds
Vertical Jump: 25.5’’
Broad Jump: 8’ 2’’
3-Cone Drill: 7.69 seconds
20-Yd Shuttle: 4.8

What's Being Said About DJ Dale

Alabama Athletics

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Undersized nose tackle with good play strength and technique to make up for a lack of desired mass and length. Dale was a three-year starter for a talent-rich defense, using nimble feet and sudden hands to keep from being engulfed by bigger bodies. He can set edges or attack gaps but matchups against bigger NFL interior defenders will be much more challenging. A lack of desired size and pass rush might put a ceiling on his draft stock, but he should offer immediate rotational help as a middle-rounder.

NFL Draft Bible: Started at nose tackle since being a true freshman for the Crimson Tide. Dale plays with consistently low pads, winning the leverage battle at the point of attack. He understands his lack of length and often uses one arm to try and extend. When he catches blockers leaning, Dale has quick and violent hands to throw them. He is agile to both sides out of his stance. Bats passes at a high level by getting his hands into throwing lanes. Flashes leg drive to push the pocket. Undersized to play nose and it shows as he frequently gets driven off the ball by combo blocks.

Dale lacks length, allowing blockers to play wide and box him in, making it tough to disengage in the run game. On lateral runs, he fails to stay square. His get off is average and does not threaten blockers. He is unable to get hands off of his frame as a pass rusher. Dale has questionable eyes and play recognition, failing to find ball carriers on a consistent basis. Squatty defensive tackle who wins the leverage battle. Dale flashes violent hands and leg drive to push the pocket as a nose tackle. He is undersized for the position, often being unable to anchor and disengage due to his short arms. Dale projects as a developmental defensive tackle who has worthwhile traits to develop. A lack of size, length and strength will hinder his ability to play a considerable role on a defensive line.

BamaCentral Analysis

Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

We keep going back to the Steelers, who have former Crimson Tide coach Karl Dunbar overseeing the defensive line. Pittsburgh took Joshua Frazier in the seventh round in 2018, and Isaiah Buggs in the sixth round n 2019. Could the Steelers draw from the Crimson Tide well again? Another sixth-round selection with Dale sounds about right.

Projection: Sixth round.

Alabama Athletics

This is the fourth story in an annual series profiling Alabama football players available in the upcoming NFL draft.

Linebacker Will Anderson Jr.

Safety Jordan Battle

Safety Brian Branch

Bama in the NFL Database

All-Time Alabama Crimson Tide Players in the NFL
Former Alabama Crimson Tide Players Selected in the NFL Draft