Alabama Head Coach Kalen DeBoer Mentions “Positional Versatility” When Asked About Bandit

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama is looking to replace most of its production from the front seven on defense from the 2025 season, replacing 57% of its sack production from a season ago with departures to the NFL draft and the transfer portal.

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Alabama lost its top three Bandits from last season as well, with LT Overton (four sacks) departing for the NFL, Keon Keeley (three sacks) transferring to Notre Dame, and Jordan Renaud transferring to Ole Miss. Alabama will also have to replace a key rotational piece at Wolf with Qua Russaw's departure for Ohio State. The Tide returns its sack leader from 2025, however, with Yhonzae Pierre (eight sacks) back in Tuscaloosa for his redshirt junior season. Pierre gained five pounds from last season, with Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer mentioning him as a player who has the versatility to play in multiple spots on Alabama's defense.

"Yhonzae, you guys will see when you see him, maybe you’ve seen him out in public, but he’s built himself up and continues to get better," DeBoer said on Tuesday. "I think he’s got some position-flex now, which is going to allow guys like Justin Hill and different combinations and personnel packages to get on the field."

Hill, a sophomore from Winton Woods High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, ended the 2025 season as Alabama's second option at Wolf behind Pierre, seeing action in all 15 games. DeBoer continued to mention a couple of the incoming transfers as players who have the versatility to play both bandit and wolf for defensive coordinator Kane Wommack in 2026.

"Des (Desmond Umeozulu) coming in. I know I’m going to miss some guys, DT (Devan Thompkins) being able to play inside and outside, so it always just Wolf, Bandit. Those guys have body types and skill sets that are going to allow our defensive staff to have fun, but put them in positions to go cut it loose and get after people.”

Alabama totaled 33 sacks in 2025, and while the Tide will have a tough task of replacing 57% of that production from last season, being able to move defenders should prove effective for the Tide to challenge that total.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.