As has become the norm in recent years, Alabama Football will be loaded on the edge this fall. Coach Nick Saban and his staff have recruited the position at an unprecedented rate over the last four cycles, which has resulted in ridiculous levels of depth and talent.
Last year’s edge rotation was largely made up of former 5-star recruits Will Anderson Jr., Dallas Turner, and Chris Braswell. With Anderson Jr. off to the league, Turner and Braswell return to lead the unit.
Behind them, senior Quandarrius Robinson and redshirt sophomore Keanu Koht have both exhibited tremendous growth and were very impactful on A-Day. Former 5-star Jeremiah Alexander is also in the mix.
As it is, this is already one of the best and deepest edge rooms in the country. By the fall it could be an embarrassment of riches, as two more high-upside 5-star recruits are gearing up to join the team as summer enrollees. If this duo can come in and immediately make noise on the depth chart, Alabama Football might be scary good on the edge in 2023.
Keon Keeley was a consensus top-5 player in the 2023 class regardless of position. At 6’6” and over 240 pounds, he is a freakish athlete that could become an overwhelming force after some time in Bama’s strength and conditioning program. Coming out of high school, Keeley received industry comparisons to former Ohio State defensive end and 2019 Heisman finalist Chase Young.
Yhonzae Pierre was not as highly touted for much of the 2023 cycle, but was one of the fastest late-risers in the class. By the time it was all said and done, he was a 5-star who was drawing comparisons to Will Anderson Jr. for his explosiveness off the ball.
Where will this duo fit in on the 2023 Alabama Football roster? It would be quite a feat for them to get on the field early, given the number of talented players already on campus at the position. By the fall, we will know more about their status on the depth chart.
The college football world should be on notice because the Bama pass rush doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon.