Alabama to retain pair of key defensive starters for 2026, per report
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Alabama appears set to return 2 starters on the defensive side of the ball next season.
According to a report from CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz, safety Keon Sabb and edge rusher Yhonzae Pierre are both expected to turn down the NFL Draft in favor of another season in college. Bama247’s Alex Scarborough confirmed they both intend to return to Alabama.
Getting both players back is a major win for defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, who has seen his rotation change in a major way since the College Football Playoff quarterfinal loss to Indiana.
Six of the 11 defensive starters from that game have since left the team, either via an NFL Draft declaration or the transfer portal. Notably, LT Overton and Qua Russaw, who came off the bench in the game, need to be replaced as well.
Sabb spent 2 years at Michigan before coming to Alabama. He stepped right in as a starter in 2024 and then started all 15 games at safety this season for the Crimson Tide.
Sabb was Alabama’s second-highest-graded defender this season, per PFF. Only Bray Hubbard, who is also returning, was graded higher by the service. Sabb was also Alabama’s best defender in coverage.
He finished with 54 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 3 pass breakups, and 1 interception.
Pierre led the team in quarterback pressures (45) after beginning the season in a backup role. He entered the starting lineup in Week 5 against Georgia and started every game thereafter.
He ended the season with 52 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 1 pass breakup, and 3 forced fumbles.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
