Alabama football is heading into a crucial season. Year 2 of the Kalen DeBoer era has to bring a College Football Playoff berth for the Crimson Tide, or else Nick Saban’s successor could find himself on the hot seat in Tuscaloosa.
The expectations are for DeBoer’s team to compete for championships, both of the SEC and national variety. While he has the talent to do it in Tuscaloosa, sometimes that’s not enough. Luck often plays a role in determining if that talent is available when the season comes around, and so far, the Tide have had good fortune.
Alabama’s roster is almost entirely healthy through the first four practices of fall camp. Even veteran linebacker Deontae Lawson appears to be up to full speed after suffering a torn ACL against Oklahoma late last season. However, another starter on the defensive side of the ball has been limited during the portions of practice that the media is allowed to view, redshirt freshman Qua Russaw.
Qua Russaw limited in early fall camp practices
Russaw is the projected starter at defensive coordinator Kane Wommack’s “wolf” position, which is a hybrid edge rusher who can drop into coverage or fit the run as a strongside linebacker, but whose primary responsibility is getting after the quarterback. Last season, Russaw played 403 defensive snaps and finished with 36 tackles, one sack, and 13 QB pressures.
The Tide don’t have much proven depth at the wolf position heading into the year. Even so, DeBoer isn’t concerned about Russaw’s status ahead of the Week 1 trip to Tallahassee to face Florida State. Though his response to a question about Russaw’s health wasn’t entirely forthcoming.
“He was out there taking team reps,” DeBoer told reporters after Practice No. 4. “There’s nothing as far as anything we’re concerned about. The volume, a little bit, just tweaked it a little bit, but he’s good, playing at a high level. So just making sure we’re careful. He’s good.”
Those comments aren’t going to set off alarm bells in Tuscaloosa, but it’s not great news that DeBoer feels they have to be careful with one of the defense’s most important young starters. While this isn’t out of the ordinary, the second-year head coach also neglected to provide any details about what is limiting Russaw.
It sounds as though Russaw should be good to go in Week 1, but his status is one to monitor as Alabama navigates the rest of fall camp.