Where Alabama turns at OLB after Que Robinson's injury

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama received some bad news to kick off Mercer week, as Kalen DeBoer confirmed that outside linebacker and 5th-year senior Que Robinson will be out for the remainder of the season with an upper-body injury.

It’s a blow to Alabama’s defense, as Robinson is one of the Crimson Tide’s best pass-rushers, and leads the team in sacks to this point in the season with four.

But even more so than jus his physical abilities on the field, Alabama will miss his leadership.

“Just a special person in every way,” Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer said of Robinson. “You hate to see a guy that pours so much into it go through what he’s going through. The one thing when I think about Que is not just what he does on the field, pre-practice he is mentoring and doing things for other guys. He just cares so much about the team, he cares so much about this place. There’s just something that sticks out on top of what you see on gamedays. Just a great person, he’s poured a lot into this place.”

Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack also spoke extremely highly of Robinson, and said he’ll be able to continue in his role as a leader off the field as best he can.

“That’s a hard thing to go through as a player, that’s certainly hard on us as a team, when you have a guy that’s been so productive for us,” Wommack said. “He’s a leader for us. I’ve been so impressed with Que, I’ve told you guys before, impressed with his level of urgency every single day, the leadership and demanding presence in terms of holding the standard that I think he really has brought to some of our younger players. He’ll have to continue some of those roles, of being a leader, he’s just going to have to do that from an off the field role. We’re going to have to continue to step up and move on without him.”

Robinson’s absence thins out the Alabama wolf linebacker room, which took an additional hit with today’s announcement from DeBoer that senior Keanu Koht has been indefinitely suspended.

That leaves two players left in the wolf room that have seen meaningful snaps this season. Qua Russaw, who’s been the starter this season when he’s been healthy, and another redshirt freshman in Yhonzae Pierre.

“We have a lot of confidence in some of our younger players that I think have stepped up at that position already,” Wommack said. “Qua Russaw, Yhonzae Pierre is doing a really good job, we’re starting to get more out of him. Those guys are excited for the challenge, next man up mentality.”

With the lack of bodies in the room, Alabama may have to get creative with playing some players out of position. Wommack said they may utilize inside linebacker Jihaad Campbell, who was an edge rusher in high school, in different pass rush packages at times, something he’s done at other points this season.

“We’re doing those things with Jihaad already as a pass rusher in some sub package things. He’s such a difference maker wherever you put him on the field, so you want to find creative ways to get him in 1-on-1 matchups from a pass rush standpoint,” Wommack said. “There’s things that we can do from a standpoint of if we show him as a defensive end and drop him out in coverage, there’s different things we can do scheme-wise from that perspective. Certainly in terms of giving us pass rush I think that is a piece of his game, and to me make him such a well-rounded player. You can play him as an inside ‘backer, you can play him as an outside ‘backer, as a rush edge. That dude’s playing four different positions for us right now, and is able to hold a lot of volume in terms of what we ask him to do. We’re gonna utilize him in any way we can.”

With the season having just a few weeks left, and a College Football Playoff spot firmly in sight, Wommack was clear about the importance of getting players to step up into larger roles.

“You look as the season goes on, these are the defining moments,” Wommack said. “Do players step up in the moment when they’re needed? Ultimately that will determine our success here on the back end of the season.”