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Alabama football starter Yhonzae Pierre was one of the highest-rated players from the 2023 recruiting class.
A five-star recruit out of Eufaula, Pierre was ranked the nation's No. 4 EDGE and No. 28 overall player by 247Sports coming out of high school. He had a banner year with the Crimson Tide in 2025, making 52 tackles and registering a team-high 14.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks, plus three forced fumbles.
As he enters his third season on the field in defensive coordinator Kane Wommack's system, Pierre figures to have an even bigger role with fellow linebackers Deontae Lawson, Justin Jefferson and Nikhai Hill-Green moving on to the NFL.
CBS Sports took a look back at the 2023 signing class and graded the progress of all 32 five-star recruits from that year's cycle. The verdict on Pierre is that he's meeting expectations.
Analyst Cooper Petagna recounted Pierre's numbers from a year ago and said:
"A quick-twitch mover who has the ability to beat opposing offensive tackles with speed and quickness off the edge, Pierre also possesses the type of power and athleticism in his repertoire that makes him extremely difficult to account for off the edge. A versatile defender who can occasionally be deployed from the second level as a pass rusher or drop into coverage, Pierre appears to be on the cusp of blossoming into one of the most dangerous defenders in the SEC."
Progress of former Alabama football recruit 'in question' after transferring to Notre Dame
Another signee from the class of 2023 is defensive lineman Keon Keeley, who totaled 16 tackles and three sacks last season before transferring to Notre Dame.
While Pierre drew high praise from CBS Sports for his progress, Keeley received less marks.
"It's been a frustratingly disappointing start to Keeley's career, to say the least, after failing to earn more than 200 snaps in three seasons with the Crimson Tide. Ranked the No. 1 defensive prospect in 2023, the former five-star failed to deliver on the expectations that followed him into the collegiate ranks. An odd fit in Alabama's three-down front, Keeley now finds himself under the supervision of one of the best player-development position coaches in all of college football, Notre Dame's Charlie Partridge, with an opportunity to rediscover himself in an environment that should be more welcoming to his skill set."
Alabama football schedule 2026
- Sept. 5: vs. East Carolina, 11 a.m., ABC
- Sept. 12: at Kentucky, 2:30 p.m., ABC
- Sept. 19: vs. Florida State, 2:30 p.m., ABC
- Sept. 26: vs. South Carolina, prime time
- Oct. 3: at Mississippi State, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
- Oct. 10: vs. Georgia, prime time
- Oct. 17: at Tennessee
- Oct. 24: vs. Texas A&M
- Nov. 7: at LSU
- Nov. 14: at Vanderbilt
- Nov. 21: vs. Chattanooga, 1 p.m., SEC Network+
- Nov. 28: vs. Auburn
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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Former five-star Alabama football recruit is meeting expectations
