Ranking Alabama football strongest positional units ahead of 2026 season: Linebackers

Photo comes via Kent Gidley of Alabama athletics

It has competition going for the second starting inside linebacker position – opposite Caleb Woodson – however, Alabama has talented depth at linebacker. 

Ranking Alabama football strongest position groups ahead of 2026 season: Tight Ends

Yhonzae Pierre, a former five-star, returns as an experienced edge rusher. He collected 14.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, nine quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, and a pass breakup for a Crimson Tide defense in 2025 that got better each week. Pierre looks forward to building off last season with even better numbers.

Alabama brought over Desmond Umeozulu, a South Carolina transfer, and is developing Justin Hill into becoming a star.  The Tide has a very good secondary, but it will be up to its linebackers to set the tone.

It is now time to rank how strong the position group is compared to others for the fall.

-Positional Ranking: [8]

-Strengths: Experienced depth, versatility, production, potential

-Weaknesses: Uncertainty at ‘Sting’ LB, help for Yhonzae Pierre at EDGE

-Analysis:

The addition of ‘Wolf’ to the whole linebacker room makes the position stronger than at least two groups for Alabama in the upcoming fall.

*Get the BEST Alabama football insider information, message board access, and recruiting coverage today! SIGN  UP HERE to unlock our subscriber-only content!*

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