Alabama spring practice breakdown: Grading outside linebackers for the Crimson Tide

Spring practice is over for Alabama football, but fans did see some things that caught their attention.

Kalen DeBoer has high expectations for this group in the post Nick Saban era.

He has his eyes on a College Football Playoff National Championship, but he knows all the pieces must be in place. Alabama’s outside linebacker room takes a hit as Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell head to the National Football League. The Tide has a lot of young talent in the room, but who is ready to replace the production of Turner and Braswell? Christian Robinson, Alabama’s OLB coach, has work to do.

A breakdown of how the outside ‘backers performed in spring practice is below.

UA’s outside linebacker room in 2024 spring practice

-Quandarrius Robinson

-Keanu Koht

-Qua Russaw

-Yhonzae Pierre

-Jayshawn Ross (freshman)

Summary

Alabama has talent in its outside linebacker room, but it loses 18 sacks from 2023 with Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell headed to the National Football League. Quandarrius Robinson returns with the most experience and Keanu Koht has explosive quickness, but who brings the fear at that position to opposing quarterbacks and running backs?

Robinson and Koht are the leaders, but can Kane Wommack produce something special with Qua Russaw, Yhonzae Pierre, and Jayshawn Ross in the 4-2-5 scheme? Russaw got time with the first-team defense in the second scrimmage and showed potential to be impactful. Wommack mentioned Pierre having a ‘special skill set,’ but does Alabama have the rushers to put fans in the mindset of Tim Williams, Ryan Anderson, Terrell Lewis, Anfernee Jennings, Will Anderson Jr., Turner, and Braswell?

This is a talented group, yet a mysterious one.

They practiced well in the spring, but no one stood out on A-Day. We will see which guys develop more in fall camp.

Spring Practice Grade: B

Related stories for series

–Grading Alabama’s WR room after spring practice

–Grading Alabama’s ILB room after spring practice

–Grading Alabama’s DB room after spring practice

–Grading Alabama’s RB room after spring practice

-Grading Alabama’s TE room after spring practice