The one thing holding Yhonzae Pierre from an All-American season

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An All-American season, SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors, first-team All-SEC honors, and a potential first-round NFL Draft selection could be on the table for him in the fall.

He was not the choice on the bingo card to explode for the University of Alabama’s football program on defense in 2025, but it happened anyway.

Yhonzae Pierre saw what greatness looked like in watching his older cousin, Courtney Upshaw, become a two-time BCS National Champion (2009, 2011), a first-team All-SEC selection (2011), and a first-team All-American honoree (2011) for the Crimson Tide.

The former five-star chose Alabama in the 2023 recruiting cycle, and he was the one that dominated last season over names such as Qua Russaw and James Smith – both recently transferred to Ohio State.

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People look at Pierre’s stats sheet from last year and see production, especially as he blossomed into the team’s best pass rusher. The 6-foot-3, 253-pounder had jaws dropping to the tune of a team-high 14.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, nine quarterback hurries (team-high), three forced fumbles, and a pass breakup.

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Stephen M. Smith is a team writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine.  You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.