Yhonzae Pierre saw his cousin at Bryant-Denny Stadium before the Tennessee game. They talked.

Then ...

“Balled out for him,” Pierre said.

That cousin? Courtney Upshaw, the former Alabama All-American defender who won two national championships under Nick Saban then went on to become a Super Bowl champion. During his college tenure, Upshaw tallied 17.5 sacks.

Pierre did his best to continue the family legacy Saturday. He finished with three sacks as No. 6 Alabama defeated No. 11 Tennessee 37-20 .

In doing so, Pierre launched himself to No. 1 on Alabama’s 2025 list of sack leaders. He’s now up to four on the season.

He only had one prior to Saturday, and that was his lone career sack. Then Pierre broke through against Tennessee, quadrupling his total.

“He’s been right there,” Alab

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