D.J. Dale, a big presence on the Alabama defensive front, has announced his plans for the 2022 season.

Dale, who has been a starter since 2019, recalled how the training staff, strength staff and coaching staff, academic staff and teammates have helped him become a better man. The 6-foot-3 and 300-pounder is from Birmingham, Alabama (Clay-Chalkville). A 4-star prospect coming out of high school, Dale was the No. 18 defensive tackle and No. 9 player in Alabama on the 247Composite.

Overall this season, he made 18 tackles with 2 sacks and 4 tackles for a loss.

“We didn’t end this season the way we wanted to, and there is still work to be done,” Dale wrote on Instagram in which the caption was “not done yet” and a hashtag of Year 4. “With that being said, I will be returning for my senior year. We have unfinished business to take care of in 2022.”

Dale, who was selected to the Nagurski Trophy Watch List to start his junior campaign, in the SEC Championship Game returned from injury to make the start in Atlanta and collected 4 tackles, including half a stop for loss. In the Cotton Bowl against Cincinnati, he made a sack.

 

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