Nick Saban expresses confidence in Quandarrius Robinson

Set to enter his fourth season at Alabama, Quandarrius Robinson is one of the most experienced players in the linebackers room. Although he hasn’t been a starter in any of those years, Robinson has still made valuable contributions on special teams and even got some time as a defensive backup in 2022.

He has soaked up the lessons from those seasons and now enters his senior year aiming to make an even bigger impact. He’ll certainly have a chance to do so, especially after coach Nick Saban expressed confidence in him following Saturday’s second scrimmage.

“We have three guys at outside linebacker that I think have experience, have knowledge and have played a significant amount and Q’s one of those guys,” Saban said. “So we have a lot of confidence in him. But again, this is all about everybody’s ability to stay focused, not make mental errors and do their job all the time.

“The more experienced guys obviously do that better. But it’s important that they do it and set a good example for other guys on the team. That’s something we keep pushing that group of outside backers to do.”

Robinson joined the Crimson Tide in 2020 as a four-star recruit out of Jackson-Olin High School in Birmingham Alabama. He ranked as the No. 72 overall player and No. 12 linebacker in the class according to the On3 Industry Rating, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

However, Robinson ended up taking a redshirt in his true freshman season and did not see the field. He made his first appearance in 2021 on special teams, becoming a regular contributor that year.

By 2022, Robinson was a key piece of the special teams unit, being named Alabama’s Special Teams Player of the Week three times. He also appeared in all 13 games on the defensive side, ending the year with seven tackles and 0.5 sacks.

Now Robinson will hope to continue to make an impact in a linebackers room that also includes Dallas Turner, Chris Braswell and Deonte Lawson. It’s unclear whether he’ll move into a starting position this season, but he should at least have a bigger role after the departures of Will Anderson and Henry To’oto’o.

With his experience and the confidence of Saban, Robinson will aim to help Alabama bounce back after missing the College Football Playoff this past season. The Crimson Tide kick off the 2023 season on Sept. 2 against Middle Tennessee.