Alabama football is preparing to lose another defensive back as rising senior Maurice Smith seeks a transfer from the program, per Greg Powers—National Recruiting Analyst for Scout.com.

The 6-foot, 195-pound safety was in the rotation of being a potential starter at star in the Crimson Tide’s nickel defense next season. He’s played in 38 career games, totaling 38 tackles, five pass breakups and a forced fumble. Smith helped a secondary last season that limited opponents to 200.6 passing yards/game and a completion rating  of 50.5 percent. He recorded 15 tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack, a pass breakup and a forced fumble in 15 games during the 2015 season.

Despite Powers noting Smith as “seeking out transfer options,” sources from Touchdown Alabama Magazine confirm that the news regarding Smith is accurate.

Smith earned his bachelor’s degree in three years, earning him the chance to play immediately when he decides his transfer option. He was a consensus four-star cornerback from Fort Bend Dulles High School (Sugar Land, Texas), prior to signing in Alabama’s 2013 recruiting class. Smith was a member on two Southeastern Conference championship teams (2014-15) and a national title squad last year.

Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.