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Why Alabama football linebacker Que Robinson played with heavy heart vs South Florida

Aug 31, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Que Robinson (34) hits Western Kentucky quarterback TJ Finely (2) as he throws at Bryant-Denny Stadium during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

Alabama football linebacker Que Robinson's father passed away last week prior to the Crimson Tide's game vs. USF, defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said Monday, while sending condolences to Robinson and his family.

"Such a difficult thing to go through, the loss of a family member," Wommack said. "I can't think of a young man that has handled that better, personally with his teammates. He is a great son and was very supportive for his family and spent time with them this week. He also did a tremendous job of doing the extra things that it takes to prepare for a game."

Wommack added that he was proud of Robinson's performance on Saturday vs. USF, where Robinson finished with seven total tackles, four solo and three assisted, along with one sack and one tackle for loss. The week prior vs. Western Kentucky, Robinson recorded one sack along with a quarterback hurry.

"I am just so proud of who he is as a young man," Wommack said. "The leader he is for our team. Our teammates — his teammates really surrounded him well this week and he went out and played very well for the second week in a row."

The Birmingham, Alabama native, out of Jackson-Olin High School is in his fifth-year at Alabama after redshirting his freshman season in 2020. He primarily saw time on special teams the past few seasons, expanding his role more in the Alabama defense this season. Under Wommack's 4-2-5 system, Robinson is manning the wolf position, a hybrid edge rusher/outside linebacker.

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Head coach Kalen DeBoer added on Monday that they were "a couple emotional times," for Robinson in the game vs. USF, but added that he was proud of the redshirt senior.

"He's played a couple really good games here in the games we played," DeBoer said on Monday. "I'm proud of him, I told him that after the game. Thought about him a couple times when I saw him out there flying around. There were a couple emotional times that I think he went through during the game. He's just a special guy all around.

Coaches did not disclose details, but said Robinson was urgent in getting back with the team later in the week ahead of Saturday's game.

"For him to really get back here, have some urgency in getting back here, I feel like he wanted to be around this team the latter half of the week," DeBoer said. "It just shows everything that I said about his commitment to wanting to be here, help this program every single day, be the best he can be."

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Why Alabama football LB Que Robinson played with heavy heart vs USF