Football
- Title:
- Defensive Line
- Phone:
- 205-348-3600
Freddie Roach was named the defensive line coach at his alma mater by Alabama head coach Nick Saban in February of 2020. He returned to Tuscaloosa after spending the previous three seasons at Ole Miss in the same role and is beginning his fourth season tutoring the Crimson Tide's defensive front.
The 2022 defensive line helped the Crimson Tide rank ninth in scoring defense (18.2 ppg), 13th in total defense (318.2 ygp) and 22nd in tackles for loss (6.9 ppg). Senior Byron Young led the way with 48 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. True freshman Jaheim Oatis added 29 tackles with two TFLs and four quarter back hurries, while Tim Smith made 20 stops and DJ Dale added 2.5 sacks.
In his second season back at the Capstone, Roach's defensive line turned in an outstanding season that saw the unit get better each week. The Crimson Tide defense finished fourth nationally against the rush, allowing just 86.0 yards per game and seventh in total defense at 304.1 ypg in 2021.
Redshirt senior Phidarian Mathis led the group with a dominant season that included 53 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and nine sacks. He was joined by Young, who finished with 40 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss, while Smith recorded 24 tackles to go with Justin Eboigbe and Dale, who each had 19 tackles apiece.
In 2020, Roach inherited a young but talented defensive front that steadily developed throughout the Crimson Tide's march to an undefeated national championship season. Redshirt sophomore Christian Barmore led the team and was second in the SEC with eight sacks while recording 37 tackles to pace all defensive linemen. He was named the Defensive Most Valuable Player of the College Football Playoff National Championship with five tackles, including two key sacks. Barmore was then selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Patriots. Â
Mathis stepped up along the defensive front in 2020 as well, finishing with 31 tackles, five tackles for loss, three pass breakups and three quarterback hurries. Young added 6.5 tackles for loss while Dale finished with 22 tackles and Eboigbe had 19.
In his final season in Oxford, Roach's 2019 Ole Miss defensive line was led by nose tackle Benito Jones and defensive end Josiah Coatney. Jones recorded 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks, while Coatney added 46 total tackles, four quarterback hurries, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
In 2018, Coatney (63) and Qaadir Sheppard (48) combined for 111 tackles and three forced fumbles. Sheppard produced a season-high 10 tackles for loss, while Markel Winters (4.0) and Jones (3.0) solidified the defensive front. During his first season at Ole Miss, Roach developed a pair of NFL Draft picks in Breeland Speaks (2nd round) and Marquis Haynes (4th round). The two combined for 14.5 sacks while earning second team All-SEC accolades. Haynes finished as Ole Miss' career leader in sacks (32.0) and tackles for loss (47.5).
Roach was previously at Alabama from 2015-17 as the Tide's director of player development where his primary focus was the off-the-field activities of Crimson Tide's football student-athletes, serving as a resource in balancing the demands of academics, athletics and community outreach. He also served as a liaison for high school coaches while assisting with Alabama camps and clinics. During his time in that role, Alabama won back-to-back SEC titles and played for the national championship all three years, winning the crown after the 2015 and 2017 seasons.
Before his return to Tuscaloosa, Roach spent the 2013 and 2014 seasons as the defensive ends and outside linebackers coach at South Alabama under head coach Joey Jones. Roach helped the Jaguars end the 2013 season ranked third nationally in sacks per game and 21st in tackles for loss per contest while finishing second in the Sun Belt in pass, total and scoring defense. The 2014 defense was second in the Sun Belt in total defense.
In 2012, Roach coached Murray State's defensive line while also assisting with the strength and conditioning program. The previous fall, he coached the defensive line and was the director of strength and conditioning at East Mississippi Community College, helping lead the Lions to the NJCAA National Championship.
Roach's first stint on the Alabama coaching staff came from 2008-10 as an assistant strength and conditioning coach, during which time the Crimson Tide won both the BCS national championship and Southeastern Conference title in 2009.
As a player, Roach was a four-year letterman at linebacker for the Crimson Tide from 2002-05. While at the Capstone, he was named the National Freshman of the Year in addition to earning Freshman All-America accolades and was twice tabbed as a second team All-SEC honoree. He was also named to Alabama's All-Decade Team for the 2000s. Following his time in Tuscaloosa, Roach signed as a free agent with the New England Patriots in 2006. Â
A native of Killen, Ala., he made 194 tackles with 23 tackles for loss and six forced fumbles as a senior at Brook High School. Roach earned his bachelor's degree in human environmental sciences from The University of Alabama in 2008.
Roach and his wife, Ashley, have three daughters, Mattie, Addison and Alexandria, and a son, Freddie III.
