2025 Alabama Fall Football Preview: The Wolf needs to eat

One of the most asked questions during the 2025 football camp surrounds Alabama’s pass rush. In Kane Wommack’s first season, the Tide struggled to get consistent heat on opposing QBs without manufacturing it, despite the presence of some well regarded athletes at key spots. The personnel should be there again, but will the results improve? We’ll soon find out.

The Departed

#34 Que Robinson

Robinson decided to return to Alabama for his redshirt senior season in 2024 and saw more playing time than he had in his entire career to that point. He was the starter coming out of camp, but as the season went on we saw more of a rotation. Que was taken in the fourth round by the Denver Broncos, and we wish him well in his professional career.

Wommack’s scheme deploys only one outside linebacker at a time, called “wolf.” The depth chart runs five deep:

Key Returnees

#4 Qua Russaw – RS So.

Russaw ran second on the opening depth chart last season, but the former five-star looked more explosive than Robinson when he was on the field and ended up earning six starts. The 6’2”, 243 lb. Montgomery product has loads of breakout potential, and his reaching it would be a godsend for this team.

#42 Yhonzae Pierre – RS So.

Pierre was something of a forgotten man last season with Robinson and Russaw logging most of the snaps, but he will have a chance to make some noise in rotation this season. Another in state product from Eufaula, Pierre is slightly bigger at 6’3”, 248 lb. He came to Alabama with a reputation as an explosive edge rusher, and will soon get the opportunity to show it off.

Returning Depth

#24 Noah Carter – RS Fr.

Former four-star Carter was one of Kalen DeBoer’s first high school commits to Alabama after flipping from Washington to follow the head coach he had committed to. Word out of camp is that Carter is coming along, but playing time may be difficult to come by with Russaw and Pierre in the mix. Noah is a bit lankier than the upperclassmen at 6’4“, 243 lb.

#30 Cayden Jones – So.

Cayden played extensively on special teams as a true freshman in 2024, and he will likely fill a similar role this season. The former four-star out of Asheville will have to wait another year for an opportunity to crack the rotation at Wolf.

The Newcomer

#8 Justin Hill – Fr.

With so much returning talent, only one Wolf was brought in via the 2025 recruiting class, but he’s a good one. Hill was rated as a high four-star out of Cincinnati and is quite stout for a true freshman at 6’3”, 242 lb. A redshirt may well be in the cards for Hill, but much is expected of him before he leaves Tuscaloosa.

Depth Chart

As mentioned above, Hill may well take a redshirt season but if not, there is a decent chance that he eclipses Jones by the end of the season.

• Russaw
• Pierre
• Carter
• Hill
• Jones