Ronnie Cottrell was shocked when he was informed he got mentioned at SEC Media Days in Atlanta. Then again, he shouldn’t be surprised knowing his former high school standout, Deontae Lawson. The Alabama linebacker was asked Wednesday who in his hometown of Mobile helped make him the man he is today.

One of the Crimson Tide's leaders this upcoming season, here is a look at everything that Alabama inside linebacker Deontae Lawson said during 2025 SEC football media days. "I think we all just have to be bought in. I think that started right when the bowl game ended, and we just all had to come together."

An ACL injury against Oklahoma changed Lawson's path, one that "wasn't a light injury whatsoever," the linebacker said. But while expressing his admiration for the Alabama injury staff, Lawson said he thinks he'll be ready for 2025.