Following the season-ending injury to Que Robinson, Alabama faces a significant challenge in replacing his production and leadership in pass rushing. Robinson, who led the Crimson Tide with four sacks and seven tackles for loss, had emerged as a crucial piece of Alabama’s defense in 2024. His absence will require Alabama to reshuffle its defensive strategy, leaning on its depth and developing talent to fill the void.
Alabama will likely turn to experienced players like Dallas Turner, who brings speed and playmaking ability from the edge, and Chris Braswell, another proven pass rusher. Additionally, young talents such as Jihaad Campbell and Keon Keeley may see increased roles as Alabama looks to maintain its defensive effectiveness. Campbell, in particular, has shown flashes of potential, while Keeley is a highly-touted freshman recruit with impressive athleticism and pass-rush skills.
The challenge for head coach Nick Saban and his staff will be to find the right rotation to replace Robinson’s productivity while maintaining the unit’s cohesion. Depth at outside linebacker remains solid, but the next few games will test how well Alabama can adapt and develop new defensive leaders during the critical stretch of the season.