2025 could be a huge year for Qua Russaw. The Alabama football edge is stepping into a bigger role for the Crimson Tide, especially with Que Robinson off to the NFL.
Now a leader in the room, Russaw shared his message for one of the Tide’s incoming freshman edges during spring practice.
“Stay patient,” Russaw said Wednesday of his advice for Justin Hill. “My message to him is just keep working, because when I came here, I had Dallas Turner, (Chris) Braswell, Que Robinson and Keanu Koht. Just stay consistent and just stay in the playbook, and just be you.”
Hill was an early-enrollee at Alabama this offseason, joining the Tide for its ReliaQuest Bowl practices in Tampa. He was a four-star edge prospect out of Winton Woods in Cincinnati.
UA defensive coordinator Kane Wommack gushed about Hill as spring practice began.
“He’s got a maturity about him,” Wommack said. “Some of these freshmen, it amazes me. I think about, where was I in the headspace at 18 years old? In my freshman year of college at the University of Arkansas? I wasn’t even close to what some of these guys are in terms of athletically, obviously, but more so from a standpoint of their mentality.
“These guys come with a mentality and they’re ready to work and you see it. I walk down to the defensive staff room, and there’s freshmen in every single coach’s office. That’s a testament to our coaches, but it’s also a testament to those freshmen, and Justin Hill is a great example of that.”
Russaw said Hill still has lots of room for growth, but the 6-foot-3, 242-pound freshman has been looking solid throughout the spring.
“Before we even got in spring practice, we were out there working together,” Russaw said. “He loves the work. He loves the little things. He’s had a lot of growth. He’s only a freshman, he’s still got a lot to go, but he’s had a lot of growth.”
Hill wasn’t the only player Russaw saw stepping up. He also pointed to redshirt freshman Noah Carter, along with veterans Edric Hill and Keon Keeley.
Russaw went more in-depth on Carter.
“He’s got a fast get-off,” Russaw said. “When he gets going, he can go. Him, he brings energy to the room too, you see him all the time just yelling and saying ‘Let’s go,’ and stuff like that.”
Alabama continues spring practice through April 12, when it will hold an open session for A-Day at Bryant-Denny Stadium. A-Day will not be a game or scrimmage this year and will not be televised.
