What clicked for Yhonzae Pierre against Tennessee

Alabama football’s edge defender, Yhonzae Pierre had a coming-out party against the Tennessee Vols on Saturday night in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Pierre finished the game with six total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. The former five-star took full advantage of an opportunity to have an expanded role in the game with both Qua Russaw and Jah-Marien Latham out.

The Tide’s head coach Kalen DeBoer praised the effort Pierre has put in as of late after the game.

“I’m really pleased with the last couple weeks what he’s done,” DeBoer said. “He’s played a lot of snaps last week. I don’t know what his number was today, but with just the depth chart there and the guys that are out, we’re asking more out of him, and he rises to the occasion. He works hard in practice. He’s built his stamina up north to where he can compete for four quarters now, and that’s really just really cool to see. It’s really him understanding that any play I can go win one-on-one and making sure he’s lined up and does his assignment and just strengths from start to finish at each and every play.”

Pierre was known as an explosive edge rusher as a recruit. However, his impactful sacks against the Vols were a product of both his speed and power.