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The Tuscaloosa News
How Qua Russaw is preparing to take over Que Robinson role in Alabama football defense
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- How Qua Russaw is preparing to take over Que Robinson role in Alabama football defense
Qua Russaw realizes what Alabama football is losing with Que Robinson's season-ending injury.
Robinson was one of the Crimson Tide 's main defensive leaders, Russaw said, someone who developed into "our voice in our room, an older guy that we could look to."
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There's a hole to be filled at Wolf linebacker. It's one Russaw said he and fellow redshirt freshman Yhonzae Pierre are ready for fill. But Russaw knows the standard he's forced to live up to.
"It wasn't just at the games. It was at practice too," Russaw said of Robinson. "Younger guy messes up, 'Hey, you got to do this, you got to do this, fit like this.' Just always getting his point across in the right way, not always yelling at younger guys, trying to be a dad or something. Just from an older guy being here, just mentoring them and leading them in the right way. That's kind of what I have to do now."
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - SEPTEMBER 7: Qua Russaw #4, Jihaad Campbell #11, and Tim Keenan III #96 of the Alabama Crimson Tide bring down Kelley Joiner #8 of the South Florida Bulls during the first half at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 7, 2024 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images)
Russaw has already played a key role in Alabama 's defense, working his way back from an ankle injury and playing at least 28 snaps in each of the last three games. He has 20 tackles, two tackles-for-loss, one sack, one interception and a forced fumble.
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Pierre's role was recently heightened after the Robinson injury. After being sidelined for the South Carolina and Tennessee game with an injury, and playing one snap against Missouri , Pierre returned and played 16 snaps against LSU . He has four tackles and two pass deflections.
The roles of both Pierre and Russaw could be heightened even more with the indefinite suspension of linebacker Keanu Koht .
Since their recruitments — Russaw as a four-star edge out of Montgomery, and Pierre as a five-star edge out of Eufaula — they talked about playing together, about leading the defense together.
With Robinson out, the opportunity for Russaw and Pierre has come.
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"For me and Yhonzae, we're just going to have to step up and kind of be that voice for the younger guys. and lead from now on," Russaw said.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Qua Russaw prepares to take over Que Robinson role in Alabama football defense
