Why Yhonzae Pierre reason for return mirrors Alabama football 2026 goal

Yhonzae Pierre had unfinished business at the college level. And it's why the Alabama football outside Wolf linebacker wanted to return for another season with the Crimson Tide.

There were too many things left on the table, he said. There are things to "tidy up" that he didn't do right. And four practices into spring, that's the mindset Pierre is carrying.

"Just working hard day in and day out, getting the itch to work and bringing people along with me going to the top," Pierre said Friday, March 13.

If you ask Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, Pierre's reasoning is a good synopsis of his overarching goal for the Crimson Tide defense heading into year three in his scheme.

Alabama was one of five defenses in the SEC to allow less than 20 points per game in 2025. The Crimson Tide was one of four defenses to allow less than 300 yards per game. And Alabama has the best pass defense in the conference.

And Wommack knows all that. But it's not good enough.

"We've done some good things here," Wommack said. "And I know our numbers and all that stuff have been solid for the past two years. We just haven't been a dominant defense throughout the season. We've shown flashes of it, but I'd like to be more dominant up front."

And Wommack said he has the pieces to work with.

"I think we've addressed some of those needs with the guys we've got in the transfer portal," Wommack said. "Excited about some of the new defensive linemen. Excited about the growth that I have seen from some of the guys that have been here in the program. So we're finding creative ways to get them in the backfield a little bit more."

Wommack wants a dominant Alabama defensive line, one that finds consistency in creating negative plays and, simply, effecting the quarterback.

That is what Pierre wants to do too, coming off a 14.5 tackles-for-loss and eight-sack campaign.

The 2026 season brings a new look for Pierre too, changing his number from 42 to 0, following in the footsteps of linebacker Deontae Lawson, who was the first defensive player to wear that number at Alabama.

Pierre wanted the change. He asked for it. And in 2026, that number, just like this defense has "a lot coming for it."

"New season coming in," Pierre said. "I just wanted to change some things up and get a clean slate. See how we rock out."

Alabama will end its 2026 spring practice schedule Saturday, April 11 with A-Day. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.

Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Yhonzae Pierre reason for return mirrors Alabama football defense 2026 goal