Alabama’s Chris Black and Robert Foster will look to anchor a young, but talented wide receiver corps this season. Junior tight end O.J. Howard wants to be more involved.
The Crimson Tide won’t face Florida’s Vernon Hargreaves in 2015, however, the Southeastern Conference is full of hard-hitting and ball-hawking cornerbacks. Yours truly of Touchdown Alabama Magazine returns with a list ranking the top five corners to face Alabama this season.
De’Vante Harris, TAMU senior
Photo by: USA Today
5. De’Vante Harris
- Classification: Senior
- Size: 5-foot-11 , 175 pounds
- Team: Texas A&M Aggies
Summary: De’Vante Harris will greatly benefit from having John Chavis as defensive coordinator at Texas A&M. Chavis is all about pressuring quarterbacks and playing solid coverage behind it. Harris totaled 53 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and an interception in 10 games last season. He excels at run support and tackling in space.
Cameron Sutton, UT junior
Photo by: al.com
4. Cameron Sutton
- Classification: Junior
- Size: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds
- Team: Tennessee Volunteers
Summary: Cameron Sutton is one of few physical cornerbacks in the SEC. He recorded 37 tackles, four tackles for loss and three interception in 2014. Two of three takeaways came against Florida and Georgia. Sutton loves to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage, but his skill set is high-pointing the ball. He’s defended 25 passes with four interceptions in his career.
Sutton accounted for four tackles in Tennessee’s 34-20 to Alabama last season.
Will Redomond, MSU senior
Photo by: al.com
3. Will Redmond
- Classification: Senior
- Size: 6-foot, 180 pounds
- Team: Mississippi State Bulldogs
Summary: Will Redmond has to be Mississippi State’s anchor on defense, after losing Preston Smith, Benardrick McKinney and Jamerson Love to the National Football League.
Redmond is an enforcer against the run and in pass coverage.
He recorded 51 tackles, three tackles for loss and three interceptions in 12 games last season. Mississippi State’s head coach Dan Mullen said Redmond is a guy that is constantly working on his skills. He had one tackle in the Bulldogs’ 25-20 loss to Alabama in 2014.
Jonathan Jones, AU senior
Photo by: flywareagle.com
2. Jonathan Jones
- Classification: Senior
- Size: 5-foot-10, 182 pounds
- Team: Auburn Tigers
Summary: He was Auburn’s emotional and vocal leader on defense last season.
Jonathan Jones plays physical, despite his size. He chimed in with 36 tackles, one tackle for loss and six interceptions (tied for team lead) last season. Will Muschamp at defensive coordinator is a huge improvement, but Jones provides a second coach in the secondary for the Tigers. He played well against Alabama in 2014 with five tackles and an interception.
Tre’Davious White, LSU junior
Photo by: deathvalleyvoice.com
1. Tre’Davious White
- Classification: Junior
- Size: 5-foot-11, 191 pounds
- Team: LSU Tigers
Summary: LSU’s defense is out for blood this season, and its defensive backfield is a strength.
Tre’Davious White has all the makings of being a lockdown corner. Safety Jalen Mills taught him well last season, as White collected 33 tackles, three tackles for loss and two interceptions.
LSU’s overtime matchup against Alabama was one of White’s better performances.
He tallied four tackles, including three solo stops.
Other cornerbacks to face Alabama in 2015: Rohan Gaines (Arkansas), Devin Bowman (Georgia), Darius Hillary (Wisconsin), Taveze Calhoun (Mississippi State) and Joshua Holsey (Auburn)
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine, Pick Six Previews and SB Nation. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @ESPN_Future.
