Five-star DL arrives on campus for Alabama as a summer enrollee

Originally posted on Touchdown Alabama Magazine
By Stephen M. Smith | Last updated 5/29/23

Courtney Upshaw was a goldmine Alabama football got from Eufala (Ala.) High School in 2008.

He helped reestablish the Crimson Tide as a force in college football. Upshaw became a first-team All-SEC selection and first-team All-American selection in 2011. He paced the Tide’s defense to two BCS National Championships in 2009 and 2011.

Upshaw has a cousin from Eufala that’s ready to carry on the legacy.

Yhonzae Pierre, a five-star in the 2023 signing class, is one of the nation’s top in-state edge rushers. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder can play outside linebacker and defensive end. He brings pass-rush moves to affect quarterbacks. Pierre may need more weight to set the edge on run plays; however, he has the potential to be an all-around elite lineman for Alabama. Upshaw was dynamic for the Tide, becoming a second-round pick of the 2012 NFL Draft. He won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens.

Pierre shared on Instagram that he has arrived on campus.

It will be intriguing to see how much playing time he could get as a freshman.

This article first appeared on Touchdown Alabama Magazine and was syndicated with permission.

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