For most teams, if you're talking about the player you can most ill-afford to lose, the conversation is going to start at the quarterback position.
But for Alabama, regardless of who ends up winning the job between Austin Mack and Keelon Russell, Kalen DeBoer and the coaching staff already feel comfortable with either player being able to play winning football. So, in theory, if one went down with an injury, there shouldn't be much of a drop-off to the other.
That's certainly not true at every position, however, and in a recent article on CBS about the most irreplaceable non-QBs in the country among CFP contenders, it's hard to argue with Shehan Jeyarajah's choice of Yhonzae Pierre.
On Pierre, Jeyarajah writes:
"The Tide has major question marks all over the field, but the star edge rusher Pierre should rank among the best in the nation. The linebacker posted 52 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks and three forced fumbles to lead the Tide to the College Football Playoff. With key defenders Deontae Lawson and Justin Jefferson off to the NFL, Pierre will have to take on an even bigger role in the front seven."
Yhonzae Pierre is an irreplaceable part of the Alabama defense
Pierre started off last season as Alabama's backup Wolf LB to Qua Russaw, but an injury to Russaw during the Georgia win in September thrust Pierre into a starting role, and the Eufaula native immediately thrived.
It was a breakout redshirt sophomore season for Pierre, who registered eight sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss. He became a more well-rounded player, contributing as a run defender to go along with his already impressive pass-rushing repertoire.
Pierre went from a role-player to begin last season to an indispensable part of Alabama's defense. That was elevated with Transfer Portal losses of Russaw and Noah Carter, leaving the Tide with little proven depth at EDGE.
Rising sophomore Justin Hill should take another step forward this year, and South Carolina Desmond Umeozulu is having a strong spring and should contribute in a big way, but neither is on Pierre's level.
That's not a knock to them, either, as Pierre has the potential to morph into the best pass-rusher in college football this season. He's got All-American and first-round NFL Draft talent, and if he stays healthy, he's going to be one of the stars of the 2026 college football season.