Elite HS Run-Stuffer with SEC Size, but Development Was the Story
Sopsher arrived at Alabama as a nationally elite defensive lineman, ranked No. 39 overall by ESPN and No. 2 at defensive tackle, with rare mass and high school production that included 78 tackles, 35 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, and 8 forced fumbles in 2018. He stood out for his size, power, and disruptive backfield impact, but scouting reports also noted that he would need development beyond winning with physical traits alone. For a team, the appeal was obvious: a high-upside interior defender with star-caliber tools, though his value depended on translating raw strength into consistent college-level technique and motor.
