Nick Saban’s retirement led to numerous player departures from Alabama several months ahead of the 2024 season. This affected various position groups, but the defensive backs experienced the most significant turnover.
Despite this, the Crimson Tide secondary made crucial contributions in several games, thanks to the efforts of safeties Malachi Moore (who is now out of eligibility and entering the NFL Draft) and Bray Hubbard, along with then-freshman cornerbacks Zabien Brown and Jaylen Mbakwe (who switched to wide receiver in the offseason), and incoming transfers Domani Jackson and Keon Sabb, among others.
Last season, Alabama’s defensive backfield struggled with depth, which posed challenges for both players and coaches. However, the success of the lean unit has attracted more freshmen commitments, such as Dijon Lee and Ivan Taylor, along with a transfer from Cam Calhoun, who is expected to make an impact in the 2025 season. In fact, Alabama may soon face the advantageous challenge of having too many players in the defensive backs room.
During Monday’s press conference, Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack expressed enthusiasm about the enhanced depth in the backfield compared to last year. “We have something we didn’t have before,” he said. “And that’s exciting. Honestly, I expected this level of depth when I arrived at Alabama.”
Wommack acknowledged that certain years require rebuilding that depth, especially with players leaving for the draft and others entering the transfer portal. The transition from Coach Saban to Coach [Kalen] DeBoer contributed to the team not having sufficient depth for consistent performance throughout the year. Still, he praised the team’s efforts given the circumstances.
The recent additions provide Wommack with “some bodies to work with.” He noted that the secondary consists of players with varying sizes, speeds, and strengths, which is crucial for the effectiveness of Alabama’s defense.
“I think some of those guys have position versatility,” Wommack explained. “We’ll be able to shift some players between cornerback and safety and dual-train them to create effective packages.”
Wommack emphasized that a key part of his role is determining how to put the best 11 players on the field at the right times, considering both situational needs and specific packages.
While there’s still much to prepare before facing Florida State in Week 1, the new defensive backs appear to be quickly understanding the strategies being taught by Wommack and DB assistants Maurice Linguist and Jason Jones
Last season’s secondary faced challenges as the coaches were in their first year with the Crimson Tide following head coach Kalen DeBoer’s hiring. Now, in their second year, Wommack is happy to see returning players feeling much more comfortable with his 4-2-5 Swarm Defense system and the finer details involved.
“I think there’s definitely a comfort level,” Wommack noted. “There’s a key difference between knowing what to do and understanding it. Last year, our players occasionally knew their responsibilities, but now they truly understand how to execute them correctly. With a solid grasp of our concepts and situational application, they can adapt on the fly, particularly when they recognize offensive schemes.”
Wommack remarked that there are more experienced players not only in the defense but also in their overall football knowledge, which enriches their play. He added that there’s a strong sense of commitment among the players, who are excited about the current direction of the program.
“We’ve maintained continuity within the defense while also incorporating some new elements that the players enjoy. It’s important for them to have fun, feel eager to come to practice, and be mentally and physically challenged. I believe we’ve achieved all of those goals this spring.”
Alabama recently concluded its final spring practice during the annual A-Day event. The secondary will continue to develop its cohesion and deep understanding of Wommack’s system over the summer.
As a side note, the spring transfer portal window opens on Wednesday, April 16, and closes on Friday, April 25, allowing college athletes nationwide to evaluate their standings on their teams. This could impact Alabama’s already deep secondary, but no developments are known at this moment.
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