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Roll Tide. I don't say this often (or ever, I swear), but when I do it feels so, so good.
Finally made a decision on where I want to play ball at I will be attending Arkansas State University! Thank for the opportunity! #Gov
— Dee Liner ✈ (@Liner_25) April 3, 2015
Wait, what? How does this happen? The 6-foot-3, 295-pound lineman was a 4-star recruit in 2013, the No. 3 rated recruit in the state of Alabama and either the fourth- or seventh-ranked player at his position. When Liner was granted his released from Alabama in early February, Scott Carasick of Bleacher Report thought that possible landing spots included two SEC powers.
Liner is 6'3", 295 and looks like he could be a good fit at 3-technique in a defense. I'd bring him in if I was a team like UGA or Tennessee
— Scott Carasik (@ScottCarasik) February 2, 2015
Apparently, he forgot to add A-State to that list, because now Liner joins the Arkansas State Red Wolves and the Sun Belt Conference.
Why?
Liner was buried on the depth chart at Alabama and wanted to do more than what he had had the chance to do in his first two years. We can't blame him, because three career tackles is too few for a player of his stature. No one ever wants to play if they don't play.
It's not fair to say that Liner has a history of doing this, transferring from one school to another, but in 2013 he sure did walk back on the verbal pledge he made in 2011 to the Auburn Tigers. (In his defense, that's just about a given if you happen to be a highly-sought high school recruit.)
What now?
In the wonderful world of the NCAA, Liner will have to sit out this 2015 season, as the Red Wolves and the Crimson Tide are technically living in the same universe. It's not all for naught, however, as Liner should use the year off to redshirt and thus, maintain his two remaining years of availability.
When he joins the Arkansas State defensive line in 2016, Liner will add to what was a clear team weakness last season. He will likely become the anchor around whom head coach Blake Anderson will keep building his monster. (You build a monster by adding one monster at a time to your team, duh. One monster #badpun at a time too: Dee Liner will be the D-Liner that A-State has missed so much.)
Fellow A-State fans, imagine this man on the 2016 Red Wolves defense. He sure knows how to tackle.
Roll Tide, indeed. As in, roll over.