Alabama Safety Keon Sabb Returning for Final Year of College with Alabama

The Crimson Tide got a dose of good news on Wednesday, with Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reporting that both edge rusher Yhonzae Pierre and safety Keon Sabb are expected to return to the Crimson Tide for the 2026 season. Sabb is the Tide's second safety to announce his return to Tuscaloosa for the 2026 season, with Bray Hubbard announcing his return on January 12.

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Sabb, a 6-foot-1, 204-pound safety from Glassboro, New Jersey, is returning to the Crimson Tide for his third season with the program after spending his first two seasons of college football with the Michigan Wolverines. Sabb transferred to Alabama ahead of the 2024 season, where he became an immediate impact starter for Alabama. He started the Tide's first seven games of the season before suffering a broken foot in Alabama's 24-17 loss to Tennessee in 2024. In 2025, he started all 15 games for the Crimson Tide, totaling 52 tackles, three pass breakups, one sack, and one interception.

Sabb was rated as a four-star prospect in the Wolverines' 2022 recruiting class, grading as the No. 96 overall prospect, the No. 10 safety, and the No. 12 player in the state of Florida out of IMG Academy. His return to the Crimson Tide helps bolster a Tide defense that has already lost six starters to the NFL draft and the transfer portal.

Sabb and Pierre were the last players Alabama was waiting for a decision on about the NFL draft. Left tackle Kadyn Proctor, center Parker Brailsford, and quarterback Ty Simpson all declared for the NFL draft. Safety Bray Hubbard, linebacker Yhonzae Pierre, and now safety Keon Sabb elected to return to school.

The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the NFL draft is today, Wednesday, January 14.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.