Alabama football’s wolf linebacker position catches attention on first day of spring practice

3/25/25 MFB Spring Practice Alabama Linebacker Justin Hill (8) Photo by Kent Gidley

Alabama football’s wolf linebacker position may be the most talked-about position from the Crimson Tide’s first day of spring practice.

The wolf linebacker position is a hybrid edge rusher within Kane Wommack’s 4-2-5 scheme. The position requires the player to pursue the quarterback while rushing from the edge, be strong against the run, drop into coverage at times and play in space at a high level.

The players practicing with this group Sunday were really intriguing. Alabama’s star edge rusher and Alabama native Yhonzae Pierre led the group through drills. Justin Hill, a second-year defender, followed Pierre. Both players played meaningful snaps at the position in 2025.

After the returning players, things get interesting.

Desmond Umeozulu followed Hill and Pierre players through drills. Umeozulu transferred to Alabama from South Carolina. Some expected the senior to line up in the bandit role for the Tide upon arriving. The Tide’s bandit position is essentially a field-side defensive end.

At 6-foot-6 and 253 pounds, the South Carolina transfer is listed as a linebacker for the Crimson Tide, and at the moment, it is only safe to assume he will spend his first days at Alabama learning the wolf linebacker position.

Jamarion Matthews and Fatutoa Henry rounded out this group. The two of them practicing at the position was eye-opening. Henry played bandit last year for the Tide, despite not earning much playing time, and Matthews was projected to play the bandit role for the Tide after he was recruited as a four-star edge/defensive lineman in the 2026 recruiting class.

Xavier Griffin not being in this group is interesting. The former five-star is a hybrid type of linebacker who may be starting his days off in Tuscaloosa at inside linebacker. Jah-Marien Latham played the position in 2025 before he was injured. He could be spending more time at the bandit position this spring.

Yhonzae Pierre, Justin Hill, Desmond Umeozulu, Jamarion Matthews and Fatutoa Henry working at Wolf LB.

Video Courtesy of Alabama Athletics. pic.twitter.com/dxjXtnpwKY

— Justin Smith (@Jdsmith31Smith) March 9, 2026

Hill, Pierre, Qua Russaw, Noah Carter and Latham earned meaningful snaps at the position in 2025. Around three different wolf linebackers enjoyed playing time in each game.

It will be interesting to see how this rotation works out.