{"id":7044061,"date":"2026-08-22T16:57:58","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T16:57:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/alabama\/2026-alabama-fall-football-preview-the-edge-rushers\/"},"modified":"2026-08-22T16:57:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T16:57:58","slug":"2026-alabama-fall-football-preview-the-edge-rushers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7044061","title":{"rendered":"2026 Alabama Fall Football Preview: The Edge Rushers"},"content":{"rendered":"


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For all of the good things we\u2019ve seen from Kane Wommack\u2019s defense the last two seasons, the Tide has only tallied 58 total sacks over 28 games. Admittedly, this defensive scheme is much more akin to the early Saban\/Smart in terms of approach to a defensive front and a pass rush (i.e., two-gapping and blitzing with linebackers, rather than relying on bookend edge rushers like we saw with the Pruitt Golding defenses). Still, the pass rush production hasn\u2019t quite been good enough, and it\u2019s an area the Tide and Wommack really want to improve.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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While there is something of interchangeability by package between the \u201cBandit\u201d position and the \u201cWolf\u201d position, this year it seems like Wommack is working to beef up the Bandit while keeping the Wolf as more of a true edge rusher. The position has to do double duty, splitting between playing on the line of scrimmage, but also often dropping into coverage in the slot, so it does take some special types of players to play it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"PASADENA,<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 1: Linebacker Yhonzae Pierre #42 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts against the Indiana Hoosiers during the first half of College Football Playoff Quarter Final Game at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 1, 2026 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by CFP\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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#42 – Yhonzae Pierre<\/strong> (RJr) 6\u20193\u201d 251<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The former 5-star rusher from Eufala had an interesting career, as it seemed he was buried on the depth chart for most of his first three years. However, some minor injuries last year saw Pierre get a little playing time early in the season, and once he got on the field, it was impossible to take him back off. Pierre led the team with 8 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss with his quick-twitch athleticism and disruptive speed. It was an excellent season for a player who wasn\u2019t even expected to be a starter going into 2025, and he likely would have been a Day 2 pick in the NFL draft last spring, but he chose to return to college for another year (and hopefully play his way into being a Day 1 pick). Pierre is one of the top players on the entire team, and make no bones about it, he\u2019s the leader in the clubhouse at the Wolf position.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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#8 – Justin Hill <\/strong>(So) 6\u20193\u201d 245<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Hill was a true freshman last year that played a tremendous amount of snaps without hardly getting any counting stats. It was an interesting role, as, despite his status as a borderline 5-star pass rusher in high school, Wommack consistently put him on the field as a Wolf that dropped into slot coverage, often having him shift over to play truly in a defensive back role. The amount of responsibility put on Hill was enormous, and it speaks to what the coaches think about him\u2026 but we also didn\u2019t get to see him pass rush very often. How he gets used in 2026 will be fun to follow.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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#9 – Desmond Umeozulu<\/strong> (Sr) 6\u20196\u201d 255<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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At 6\u20196\u201d with impressive speed and multiple years of rotational experience at South Carolina, Umeozulu made the transfer to Alabama ostensibly for a bigger role in the pass rush. What makes his situation intriguing to me is that I don\u2019t see Alabama wanting to cut snaps from either Pierre or Hill. In reality, I think that Umeozulu will actually wind up being the primary \u201c3rd down Bandit\u201d most of the year while also being a back up at Wolf linebacker.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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#11 – Xavier Griffin <\/strong>(Fr) 6\u20193\u201d 228<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Griffin was the highest rated recruit of the Tide\u2019s 2026 class, and he brings a level of excitement and potential stardom that has had people talking about him all offseason. Griffin maybe isn\u2019t a true edge rusher, but more of a versatile linebacker who can rush the edge or play either of the other spots, and has repeatedly drawn comparisons to Alabama\u2019s Jihaad Campbell, who did both for Wommack\u2019s defense in 2024.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I don\u2019t know where he fits on this depth chart, but don\u2019t be surprised if he finds his way on the field somehow.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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#41 – Jamarion Matthews<\/strong> (Fr) 6\u20192\u201d 254<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Where Griffin is a hybrid linebacker, Matthews is more of a true defensive end that can do a little a linebacker if he needs to. He had some impressive production in high school and is a top 70 recruit, but I think the scheme fit for him at Wolf is a little awkward and will take some time for him to learn it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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This one is easy. Yhonzae Pierre is the starter, and I think that Justin Hill and Desmond Umeozulu will be listed as co-backups. Where it gets interesting is that all three have very different skillsets, and I think we\u2019ll often see two of them on the field together at the same time depending on the package and situation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Griffin and Matthews will offer depth and I can see Griffin getting a nice handful of snaps in some games, but I don\u2019t expect either one to really cut into the snaps of any of the three above them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For all of the good things we\u2019ve seen from Kane Wommack\u2019s defense the last two seasons, the Tide has only tallied 58 total sacks over 28 games. 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