At 6-2, 195-pounds, Trevon Diggs is anything but small for a cornerback in the modern day. The former wide receiver actually has the perfect combination of physique and speed, but his lack of refinement and skill at the new position last season kept him off the field. With the losses of every starter in last year’s secondary, Alabama clearly has a lot of holes to fill, and Diggs seems a likely favorite for significant playing time.
He recorded all of just six tackles and three pass break-ups in mostly garbage time last year. With two springs, two summers, and a whole season under his belt at the position, the Maryland native’s potential could finally be realized in his new role.
Few would deny Diggs’ elite speed relative to his size. He saw a small but meaningful amount of playing time as a wide receiver during his freshman year – and not just in garbage time. His Spring Game last year was one to be forgotten, but he showed off a bit of natural instinct in picking off Jalen Hurts in the corner of the end zone. Ultimately, Diggs’ speed and agility can be the difference maker if he can find ways to get the ball in his hands. Nobody returning on Alabama’s secondary has a single career pick-six, so finding a playmaker like Diggs will turn into a necessity as the season rolls on.
The rotation order will become more clear as Spring practice unravels heading into April’s A-Day. Anthony Averett, Levi Wallace, and Tony Brown were all three significant cogs to last season’s defense that will need replacing, as will Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ronnie Harrison at safety. Should Diggs find his way to the top of the depth chart, he has the potential to be special. All of the physical attributes appear there, but it’s the mental side of things to keep an eye on.
