Head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, Kalen DeBoer, still has work to do when it comes to the team’s roster after a crazy offseason filled with transfers in and out of Tuscaloosa. Fortunately for the Tide, he still has a few cards in play.
The coaches are especially worried about the secondary. According to Tony Tsoukalas of Tide Illustrated, the Tide are without a returning cornerback as a result of losing stars like Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry to the NFL Draft and generational players like Caleb Downs to other schools. The loss has not only hurt.
Domani Jackson, a transfer from USC who was anticipated to join Alabama even prior to Nick Saban’s retirement, is the Tide’s only remaining experienced cornerback.
The only cornerback on the roster with a college snap total is Domani Jackson, a transfer from Southern California, according to Tsoukalas.
Jackson is a serious candidate to earn a starting position simply based on his experience, and another transfer should do for the safeties what Jackson does for the corners. Additionally visiting Tuscaloosa is Keon Sabb, a former four-star recruit who spent two years playing at Michigan.
According to Bama247 recruiting reporter Brett Greenberg, a group of highly recruited players without college experience will compete with Jackson and Sabb for playing time.
DeBoer should be able to field a competitive secondary with the help of the skilled freshmen, experienced transfers, and returning players who will all be vying for snaps and starting roles. If things aren’t working out, though, DeBoer will have a chance to make changes to the roster.
DeBoer clarified that the team does “have a couple extra scholarships still available that we could utilize when that time comes” during a recent appearance on Birmingham sports radio station WJOX.
According to Tsoukalas, DeBoer stated, “I think we do have a couple of spots, and you naturally just kind of keep your eyes and ears open for what those are going to be and we’ve gotta go through our spring ball and continue to evaluate our team.” “I believe there are some talented young players who will step up and perform admirably. However, we do have a few additional scholarships.”
It’s unclear if those will go to the offensive line or secondary, two more troubled position groups with little return experience, but it appears DeBoer is keeping his options open for now.
The players Alabama selects to occupy those open roster spots when the transfer portal reopens on April 15 will provide valuable insight into which position groups are ready for prime time and which positions still require work before the season begins on August 31.
