Saban updates progress of freshmen Keon Keeley, Yhonzae Pierre

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama signed two of the nation’s top four edge rushers in the 2023 recruiting class in Keon Keeley and Yhonzae Pierre, but through the first seven games of the season, neither former 5-star prospect has seen the field for the Crimson Tide.

On Monday, to kick off Tennessee week, Alabama head coach Nick Saban was asked about Keeley and Pierre and how the freshman outside linebackers have looked in practice.

“Both of those guys came in the fall,” Saban said. “We only had four guys that came in the fall, and because those guys weren’t here in the spring, they had to try to catch up in the summer. I think their learning curve has been a lot greater.

“We’re pleased with the progress that they’re making, but it’s hard to get them enough reps at this time of the year to try to get them where they need to be so that they can make a contribution. (Qua) Russaw was here earlier, so he’s a little bit ahead of the game.”

Keeley, Pierre and Russaw were all top-30 recruits in last year’s class but have yet to make an impact on Saturdays. Alabama has two of the top edge rushers in the SEC in Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell, who have combined to record 11.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss entering the eighth week of the season. The Crimson Tide rarely rotates players at the position, while senior Quandarrius Robinson is the third outside linebacker to get into games.

Saban spoke highly of Robinson, who was a player of the week for UA’s coaches, Monday.

“Q played good,” Saban said. “He played very well. He’s been a core special teams guy for us, one of our better special teams players probably ever here. When he had opportunities to play in the game, he did a good job.”

As for the rest of Alabama’s outside linebacker room, Keanu Koht is the Tide’s fourth player at the position, while Jeremiah Alexander has made a position switch to inside ‘backer. Still, there are four older players ahead of the trio of true freshmen at the moment, which has led to their involvement – whether on defense or special teams – being slim to none.

Keeping with the theme of newcomers, Saban was asked on Monday how he balances being patient with young players and knowing when it may be time to be a little tougher on them.

“I think that everyone’s a little different when it comes to that,” Saban said. “Some guys, even though they’re young, they’re very mature. They handle their failures fairly well and learn from them. They’re focused on not necessarily the outcome but what do I have to do to get the outcome. And those guys seem to do pretty well.

“Some guys that are young, good players, maybe lack a little of that maturity, sometimes allow the success and the failure that they’re having affect how they approach the next play. And that’s something that I try to harp on the players.”

He continued by talking about baseball and how it is a game of failures.

“If you struck out two out of three times, got a hit the third time, you’d be in the Hall of Fame,” Saban said. “So for young guys, they have to understand that if I can learn and grow from the mistakes that I make, not waste the failings, that would be significant in me making improvement and developing. That takes the right mindset.

“I think the relative degree that young guys have in that area sort of determines how fast they improve.”

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