Greg McElroy Names SEC Linebacker Who Can ‘Take Over’ in 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Greg McElroy sees big potential in Alabama linebacker Qua Russaw heading into the 2025 season. The former Crimson Tide quarterback recently highlighted Russaw on ESPN’s Always College Football, calling him a player who could take control of games this fall.
Qua Russaw Set to Lead at WOLF Linebacker Spot
Russaw, a redshirt sophomore from Montgomery, Alabama, is expected to play a key role at the WOLF linebacker position. He played in all 13 games last season.
ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
“Qua Russaw, he’s the guy that I think has a chance to take over the game,” McElroy said. “He was a little bit banged up at times last year, got a little banged up in the Wisconsin game. But there were so many moments throughout the year in which you saw those flashes.”
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McElroy believes Russaw has the tools to earn All-SEC and All-American honors, provided he stays healthy and consistent.
Russaw has been working on improving his pass-rushing skills throughout the spring. When asked to rate his 2024 performance, he gave it a modest score.
“I’ll say about a six or a seven,” Russaw said. “I don’t think my pass rush was there. This offseason, I’ve been working on my pass rush, just being explosive because I know I can do it.”
He also mentioned that gaining comfort on the field and playing without overthinking has been a major part of his offseason development.
With Alabama needing new leaders on defense, Russaw is in a position to step up. His athleticism and growing confidence make him a name to keep an eye on this season.
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If he keeps improving, he has a real shot at becoming one of the SEC’s top linebackers, just like McElroy said.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
