Shortly after getting positive news with the expected return of WR Rico Scott, who had initially decided to enter the Transfer Portal on Sunday, Alabama received its biggest loss to the portal this cycle.
Redshirt sophomore Qua Russaw, a former 5-star recruit and nine-game starter for Alabama over the last two seasons, will reportedly enter the portal with two seasons of eligibility remaining:
NEW: Alabama LB Qua Russaw has entered the NCAA transfer portal, @PeteNakos reports.
— On3 (@On3sports) January 5, 2026
The former 5-star has totaled 49 tackles and 2 sacks over the last two seasons. https://t.co/U31NaOwVgy pic.twitter.com/dGrXArdt4Q
Russaw started six games for Alabama last season, stepping up after the injury to senior Que Robinson. He opened the 2025 season as the starter at Wolf LB, but suffered a broken foot during the Crimson Tide's regular-season win over Georgia.
Russaw missed six games as a result, making his return in the final home game of the season against Eastern Illinois. But Russaw returned to a different reality than the one he left, which is likely what drove his decision to enter the portal.
While Russaw was out, redshirt sophomore Yhonzae Pierre emerged as the clear-cut starter at the position. Pierre provided the pass rushing that Alabama had been missing, recording a team-leading eight sacks.
Yhonzae Pierre's NFL Draft decision is even more important now
The optimistic viewpoint here is that Russaw's decision to enter the portal is good news that Pierre is likely to come back instead of entering the NFL Draft. But that remains to be seen.
Pierre would probably find himself selected on the second day of the NFL Draft this year, but a similar leap in his fourth year on campus could see him become one of the nation's most feared edge rushers and a potential first-round pick in the 2027 draft.
If Pierre comes back, it lessens the sting of Russaw's loss. Alabama will also return promising freshman Justin Hill, who emerged throughout the season in part due to Russaw's absence. Hill flashed a lot of promise and should be in line for a significant increase in his role as a sophomore.
If Pierre does choose to enter the NFL Draft, then finding an experienced pass rusher to man the Wolf spot becomes one of the biggest areas of need for Kalen DeBoer's 2026 Crimson Tide team.
You can follow along with all of Alabama's Transfer Portal activity by following this link.