It's clear that Alabama players are taking this offseason seriously. There have been plenty of viral moments of workouts as the Crimson Tide gears up for the 2025 season. There's plenty of motivation in Tuscaloosa as Alabama looks to bounce back from a disappointing 9-4 season.
The disappointment of last season is fueling this year's team.
Rising redshirt sophomore LB Qua Russaw is one of the players putting in extra work as he enters his third year in the program. Russaw started the majority of the 2024 season for the Crimson Tide at the Wolf LB position. He had a good year, but many have him pegged for an even bigger breakout season as a junior.
He is certainly putting in the work to take that next jump.
On Wednesday, Russaw posted a video to his X account of him working out with Mad House Training. He looks to be in tremendous shape:
Qua Russaw could be Alabama's most important defensive player
Alabama has all the pieces to field the best defense in college football next season. Kane Wommack's unit finished 10th in the country in yards per play against in 2024. A ton of talent returns to Tuscaloosa, and there's depth everywhere.
The one thing that could hold the Crimson Tide back from reaching an elite level is getting after the quarterback. Alabama ranked 69th in the country in total sacks last season, averaging under two per game.
Russaw has the athletic profile to be a menacing rusher off the edge. He spent plenty of time in the backfield last year, but he rarely produced a sack. In fact, he managed just one all of last season.
In fairness to Russaw, he split a lot of time at Wolf with Que Robinson in the first couple of months of the season. Russaw was typically the standard down Wolf with Robinson coming in on obvious passing situations to get after the QB.
Following Robinson's season-ending injury, Wommack tweaked things and shifted Jihaad Campbell to the Wolf spot on third downs.
This year, Russaw should get more opportunities to rush the passer. Alabama needs him to produce when given the chances.
The former 5-star has all the talent in the world. His first season of playing time was a nice step in the right direction. Going into his third year in the program, he looks ready to break out in a big way.