Alabama football is losing one of its defensive starters to the transfer portal. Qua Russaw is entering the portal, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to AL.com.
Russaw started at the edge-rusher position that Kane Wommack refers to as the “wolf.” After starting three of the first four games in the wolf spot, Russaw sustained a foot injury in the win over Georgia in September.
He didn’t return until the Eastern Illinois game in late November and worked
CBS Sports was first to report the news.
“I think Qua is, in a room full of freaky people, Qua is the freakiest,” Wommack said of Russaw in August, before the 2025 season began. “He is freaky athletic and I think he is a special talent in terms of his strength. You watch him at the point of attack, when we start talking about violent hands, which is one of our ‘Bama fundamentals that we continue to stress and harp on, Qua’s ability to destroy blocks and get off and make plays. There was a play against Auburn (in 2024), a guy came and pulled against him, and I mean he (Qua) absolutely obliterated him at the point of attack. Those are things that show up on tape in terms of his strength and physicality.
“But ultimately it’s about knowing. What I like about Qua is knowing when to and when not to from a physical standpoint, be too aggressive. And I think he’s learned a lot, last year with the experience that he had, and I think he’s, what I could call, has turned himself into a controlled, aggressive player.”
Russaw finished 2025 with 14 tackles and a sack. He had 36 tackles and a sack in 2024 for the Crimson Tide.
He joined Alabama as a four-star recruit out of Carver in Montgomery. He redshirted the 2023 season for the Crimson Tide, and will have two years of eligibility remaining wherever he winds up out of the portal.
In his absence, Alabama will likely rely more on Yhonzae Pierre at the edge position. Pierre stepped up while Russaw missed time with injury and became a notable pass-rushing presence.
The transfer portal is scheduled to remain open through Jan. 16.
