Alabama Shocks NFL Scouts as Two Stars Decide to Return

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer finally picked up a much-needed offseason win — and for once, it didn’t involve losing another player to the transfer portal. On Wednesday, two major defensive contributors made the surprising decision to bypass the NFL Draft and run it back in Tuscaloosa for another year, giving the Crimson Tide defense a much stronger outlook for 2026.

According to multiple reports, standout safety Keon Sabb and rising edge rusher Yhonzae Pierre are both expected to return to Alabama rather than test their draft stock in 2026. Both defenders were widely viewed as Day 2 prospects, with respected analyst Mel Kiper Jr. recently listing Sabb as a “just missed” name from his top 10 safety rankings and labeling Pierre as the No. 4 outside linebacker in the projected class. With Wednesday marking the decision deadline for players with three years of college service, both opted to bet on another year of development — and perhaps a higher draft slot.

Sabb’s return reinforces the secondary in a massive way. The former Michigan transfer played more snaps than any Alabama defender last season (788), starting all 15 games and becoming one of the most steady presences on the roster. He finished with 52 tackles, one sack, one interception and three pass breakups, solidifying himself as a reliable survivor in a defense that dealt with frequent turnover and youth.

Pierre’s choice arguably carries even more weight because of Alabama’s thin edge rusher situation. After being thrust into a full-time role due to injuries to Jah-Marien Latham and Qua Russaw, Pierre broke out in 2025 with 8 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles — leading the team in all three categories. His TFL numbers were the best at Alabama since Dallas Turner in 2023. Now set to enter 2026 as a redshirt junior with two years of eligibility left, Pierre gives DeBoer a proven disruptor off the edge.

For a defense that struggled throughout the season and entered winter with more questions than answers, locking down Sabb and Pierre is a legitimate win. Sabb will return as a redshirt senior, while Alabama still has young safety help coming in with four-star Jireh Edwards and three-star Rihyael Kelley joining the room. There is also a chance Latham could regain a spot at outside linebacker if he earns a medical redshirt for a seventh year of eligibility.

And the timing couldn’t be better, because Alabama’s defensive line has been nearly wiped clean. The Tide will be replacing three starters — James Smith via the portal, Tim Keenan III due to eligibility, and LT Overton to the NFL Draft. To fill the gap, Alabama has already brought in multiple transfers, including:

• Devan Thompkins (USC) — 6’5”, 285 lbs
• Kedrick Bingley-Jones (Mississippi State) — 6’4”, 320 lbs
• Caleb Smith (Washington) — 6’5”, 270 lbs

Smith, a Birmingham native, originally signed to play for Kalen DeBoer at Washington before redshirting in 2025. Now he comes home to help Alabama restore its physical identity up front. Meanwhile, Bingley-Jones, who logged 343 defensive snaps for Mississippi State despite injuries, brings SEC experience and size in the middle. Thompkins and Smith add length and versatility, giv­ing DeBoer options across multiple spots on the line.

After an offseason filled with portal chaos and roster churn, Alabama fans finally have reason to exhale. With proven playmakers returning at all three levels — and reinforcements arriving in the trenches — DeBoer’s defense suddenly looks capable of regaining the physical, line-of-scrimmage control that has defined Alabama football for over a decade.

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