Dee Liner has yet to commit, but all indications are that he will take his massive frame to Tuscaloosa.
Photo by Joe Boyd
is one of the finest football players ever to come out of
Muscle Shoals (Ala.).
The 6-foot-4, 280-pound defensive tackle was a
MaxPreps Medium Schools All-American, made the USA Today first-team All-America and played in the prestigious Under Armour All-American Game as a senior. He was also an All-State performer for the past three years.
During his final three years as a varsity starter, Liner amassed 264 tackles, 45 tackles for losses, 21 sacks, 46 hurries, caused three fumbles and scored two touchdowns. The Trojans compiled a 44-9 record during Liner's four years on the varsity.
Dee Liner, Muscle Shoals
Photo by Joe Boyd
He can bench press 365 pounds and runs 40 yards in an excellent 4.7 seconds.
Coach Scott Basden told MaxPreps that as a freshman Liner "had a lot to learn, but he's always been big and fast. (As a sophomore) he continued to improve. He was just stronger and more physical than anybody. He became a force (as a junior) where people had to double- and triple-team him."
Liner began getting major college offers after his sophomore year and committed to Auburn University as a junior, However, he later backed out when Auburn changed head coaches.
As a senior Liner paced a defense which allowed just 8.6 points per game by making 69 tackles, 17 for losses. The Trojans won their first 13 games before bowing out in the Class 5A state semifinals.
Basden noted that in his final year, Liner "was pretty consistent. I thought that the bigger the game the better he played. He is an unselfish player. (He can take his future) as far as he wants. It's all about timing."
Assistant coach Kevin Montgomery added, "He's very deserving (of all his honors). He has a very quick first step. He was a man against boys in high school — very physical. He plays from whistle to whistle."
Bryan App, who has covered Liner's career for the Florence TimesDaily, believes, "When he wants to play, he's pretty unstoppable."
Though Liner declined to be interviewed for this story, at least two sources said they think he is leaning toward the University of Alabama. He also reportedly had shown some interest in Southern California and Miami.
"Alabama is one of my favorites, but my de-committing from Auburn
has nothing to do with Alabama," Liner told
AuburnSports. "I just didn't
feel comfortable with the coaching staff. I've been holding it in, I
just had to get it off my shoulders."
Concerning Alabama, App said, "From all indications, that's what he's going to do."
MaxPreps recruiting expert Tom Lemming, who ranks Liner as the nation's No. 21 player, also said, "I think Alabama has the lead."
