2023 Alabama Crimson Tide Position Preview: Edge Rusher

Even after losing Will Anderson Jr. to the NFL, Alabama's outside linebacker position may still be one of its strongest.

Blake Byler | Aug 2, 2023

2023 Alabama Crimson Tide Position Preview: Edge Rusher /

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Alabama Crimson Tide

The edge rusher is one of the most exciting positions in all of football. Its job, most of the time, is simple: get after the quarterback.

Alabama has a huge hole to fill in the edge rusher unit this season, after the loss of Will Anderson Jr. to the Houston Texans with the No. 3 overall pick in this past NFL Draft. Anderson was not only the best edge rusher in the decorated history of Alabama football, but one of the best defensive players in the history of the program.

While its going to be hard to find a player as talented as Anderson again, the 2023 unit of edge rushers has tons of talent to field.

The most prominent name is Dallas Turner, now a junior after being a multi-year staple in the defensive lineup. Turner burst onto the scenes as a freshman in 2021 after being thrust into the lineup due to injuries, and after wowing fans and coaches alike with his play, became a key cog in the defense last season.

Turner already has 12.5 career sacks, and is one of the best returning players in the entire Southeastern Conference. If you ask Turner, he's the best defensive player in the SEC, as he claimed last month at SEC Media Days.

Turner was one of two Alabama players named to the preseason All-SEC First Team on the defensive side of the ball, alongside cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. While Anderson's shoes are impossibly big ones to fill, all signs indicate that Turner is ready to step into the role and be one of Alabama's best defenders in 2023.

Depending on the defensive package Alabama runs, one or two edge rushers could be utilized. The Crimson Tide runs a 3-4 base defense, meaning three defensive linemen and four linebackers, two of which would be outside linebackers/edge rushers.

On the other side of the line as Turner, who typically plays on the strong side, you'll find senior Chris Braswell. Braswell boasts a slightly bigger frame than Turner, carrying 13 extra pounds, and is the surefire choice to slide into the other starting edge spot.

Braswell's playing time slowly grew over the course of his career, playing as a rotational piece behind Anderson and Turner last season. Now as a senior, he should be able to fill in nicely with his experience and trust that the coaching staff has for him.

Braswell recorded three sacks last season, and the media is expecting even more from him in a full-time starter role, having named him to the preseason All-SEC Third Team after SEC Media Days.

While Turner and Braswell are the natural choices to get the bulk of the snaps on the edges, there always need to be rotational pieces to give rest and whenever defensive coordinator Kevin Steele wants to use some creative packages (think last season's "cheetah package" with Anderson, Turner, and Braswell all on the field).

Senior Quandarrius Robinson has spent much of his career playing special teams, even appearing in all 13 games last season, and has a chance to make an impact in his final season.

Jeremiah Alexander is perhaps the most interesting prospect, having redshirted last season after coming in as a 5-star recruit in the 2022 recruiting cycle. Alexander is a massive talent and boasts a monster 250-pound frame. Many think it's only a matter of time until he cracks the rotation and becomes a mainstay on the Alabama front.

Keanu Koht has been around for two seasons, entering his redshire sophomore season this year. He was a high-4-star recruit out of high school, and could work his way onto the field as a reserve this season.

The wildcards in this room are the trio of freshmen that joined the team this past spring and summer. The Crimson Tide brought in two 5-stars, Keon Keeley and Yhonzae Pierre, and one 4-star, Qua Russaw, to the unit. The additions of these freshmen could result in varying amounts of playing time for each player, but they make the unit as a whole one of the deepest on the entire team.

Projected Depth Chart

SAM

Dallas Turner, Jr.
Quandarrius Robinson, Sr.
Keon Keeley, Fr.
Qua Russaw, Fr.

JACK

Chris Braswell, Sr.
Jeremiah Alexander, RS Fr.
Keanu Koht, RS So.
Yhonzae Pierre, Fr.

Jeremiah Alexander

6-2, 249 pounds, redshirt freshman

5-star recruit in the 2022 recruiting class. Redshirted last season after appearing in four games and recording one tackle.

Chris Braswell

6-3, 255 pounds, senior

After playing sparingly through his first two years, stepped into a key rotational role in 2022 as a backup to Will Anderson Jr. and Dallas Turner. Totaled 20 tackles and three sacks, and was named one of the coaches' defensive players of the week in Week 1 against Utah State.

Keon Keeley

6-6, 242 pounds, freshman

5-star in the 2023 recruiting class, widely considered a top-5 player in the entire class.

Keanu Koht

6-4, 232 pounds, redshire sophomore

High 4-star recruit in the class of 2021. Did not see any time his first season and ended up redshirting. Saw action in four games last season.

Yhonzae Pierre

6-3, 223 pounds, freshman

5-star recruit in the 2023 recruiting class.

Quandarrius Robinson

6-5, 231 pounds, senior

Appeared in all 13 games in 2022, splitting time between special teams and defense. Recorded half a sack and seven tackles last season. Was named special teams player of the week by the coaches after his performance against Vanderbilt in Week 4.

Qua Russaw

6-2, 242 pounds, freshman

4-star recruit in the 2023 recruiting class.

Dallas Turner

6-4, 242 pounds, junior

Began receiving significant playing time in 2021 after injuries to Chris Braswell and Drew Sanders placed him in the starting lineup. Recorded eight sacks as a freshman before recording four as a starter in 2022. Preseason All-SEC First Team selection.