Alabama had the best defense in college football last season. However, Senior Bowl director Phil Savage thinks this year’s team could be even better.

In fact, Savage thinks it could be the “fastest and most athletic” of any defense during the Nick Saban era after watching the team practice Wednesday.

Savage noted that Alabama’s current front seven was noticeably lighter than the 2009 team, which won the first of Saban’s four national championships with the Tide.

Alabama returns five starters on defense including defensive end Jonathan Allen and linebackers Shaun Dion Hamilton and Reuben Foster. However, the Tide will need to replace noseguard A’Shawn Robinson, defensive ends Jarran Reed and Denzel Devall, as well as linebackers Reggie Ragland and Dillon Lee.

Savage also shared his opinions on Alabama’s ongoing quarterback competition. He said the Tide could use multiple QBs in its season opener against USC and might not make a decision until after its Week 2 game against Western Kentucky.

Alabama will look to replace its previous starting quarterback for the third consecutive offseason. The Tide won an SEC Championship and appeared in the College Football Playoff — which included winning the title game in 2015 — during each of the past two seasons.