Kalen DeBoer and Deontae Lawson confirm what fans already know about which players are pivotal to improving Alabama's pass rush
Alabama’s pass rush has to be better in 2025, and two players are going to play a pivotal role in making that happen.
Alabama's pass rush needs to be better in 2025. Overall, the defense was solid in Kane Wommack's first season as the Crimson Tide's defensive coordinator, but the team only tied for No. 69 nationally in sacks per game with 1.92 (25 total). That's following three-straight years of finishing in the top-16 while averaging close to a sack more per game at least.
Last week at SEC Media Days, the pass rush was a big topic of conversation when talking to head coach Kalen DeBoer and players such as veteran linebacker Deontae Lawson. When asked which players were expected to bolster the pass rush this upcoming season, DeBoer started with Alabama's most consistent player in that area from a season ago.
“I think guys like LT Overton jump out to me,” said DeBoer on Wednesday. “LT was there a lot last year. Those are the next steps you want to take. Not just him, but a lot of guys finishing plays. LT has it in him, the skillset. He has those instincts, continues to hone in on taking it to the next level.
DeBoer wasn't the only one to bring up with Overton is capable of on a football field.
“LT is a monster,” said veteran defender Deontae Lawson. “That’s what I like to call him, because he came in, I don’t think he weighed as much as he does now, but I think he’s about 280 and yeah, he’s an animal.
“He can do all of it. He can do the whole nine. He can stop the run; he can rush the passer and he’s just violent and explosive with everything he does. Man, I’m excited for him for this year. I know he’ll have a great year. We’re happy that we have him.”
Overton only had two sacks last season to go with three tackles for loss. Those aren't impressive numbers, but the underlying stats say the Texas A&M transfer was a lot more disruptive than those numbers would indicate.
For example, he finished the year with 39 total pressures on 256 pass rush snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. That's a pressure every 6.6 snaps, which isn't too far off from the pressure rate that Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell had in 2023. Based off their rates, Turner would've had 48.3 pressures and Braswell would've had 46.5 in 256 pass rush snaps.
As DeBoer mentioned, it's all about finishing more of those plays. Overton's a scheme versatile piece who can win on the edge or on the interior, and as Wommack mentioned back during the season, Overton's ability to transition pass rush is fantastic, which should give him more chances to win those opportunities on early downs.
The other guy who was brought up by DeBoer and later confirmed by Lawson is redshirt sophomore Qua Russaw, another former five-star edge talent who played 403 snaps and started six games a season ago.
“Qua Russaw is another guy," DeBoer continued after discussing Overton. "Some underclassmen that are coming up that are doing a nice job, too. Looking forward to the progress they’ve made physically to be able to put themselves in a position to let their work happen on the football field on Saturdays.”
Lawson confirmed that Russaw is a physical freak who brings a great combination of power and explosiveness.
“Qua is my guy,” Lawson said. “He’s a freak, to be honest. I think he ran like 22 miles per hour at like 240 pounds. He’s just an animal. He’s been diving into his game on the pass-rushing side a little bit more. He’s always talking about going to get that sack. So, I’m excited for him. I’m sure he’ll have a great year."
Russaw started Alabama's first three games in 2024 before an injury in Week 3 forced him to miss the Vanderbilt matchup and serve in more of a rotational role until he finally got his starting job back for the last four games of the season. He never seemed to be 100% healthy though, but that should change in 2025, especially with him losing eight pounds (down to 243 from 251).
A lot of people don't realize the elite traits Russaw brings to the table. At 250+ pounds last year, he was probably a bit heavy, but he proved to be an top-tier edge-setter. He's not long at all (listed 6-foot-2 and doesn't have compensating arm length), but his play strength/power profile is up there. Plus, there's explosiveness off the snap to go with premier closing speed. Throw in his hustle, and you've got the makings of a potentially dominant pass rusher.
It's not just the edge guys with Overton and Russaw though. Lawson also brought up in the interior guys.
“We’ve got different guys that can do it, and we’ve got D-linemen that can do it other than just our outside linebackers, that can be a force in the rush game,” Lawson said. “You’ve got interior guys like Tim Keenan, James Smith that can pressure and rush the quarterback just as well. I’m just excited to see the pass rush, to be honest.”
I think those two, along with Jeremiah Beaman and Edric Hill, can create some issues for quarterbacks attempting to step up in the pocket. And that, combined with the edge pressure we're expecting from the deep Bandit and Wolf rooms, should generate more of a consistent pass rush this fall.
