With the hiring of Charles Kelly (previously at Tennessee) and retaining Karl Scott from last season, the University of Alabama can potentially have the best defensive secondary in college football in the upcoming fall.
While it lost Deionte Thompson and Saivion Smith to the National Football League, returning junior Xavier McKinney headlines an experienced group.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Georgian totaled 74 tackles in 2018 – including six for loss and three sacks (led all defensive backs).
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He tied for second on the team in pass breakups (10) and recorded two interceptions, with one returned for a touchdown. McKinney’s intensity, ball skills and instincts as a complete player at strong safety has drawn attention from Pro Football Focus.
The site graded him as the top safety in the Southeastern Conference for passer rating allowed last year.
Per a graphic from PFF on Twitter, McKinney allowed a rating of 46.5 to quarterbacks on a minimum of 200 snaps.
Xavier McKinney allowed very little in coverage. pic.twitter.com/mrWeAXeiHQ
— PFF College (@PFF_College) June 27, 2019
Along with him, the Crimson Tide returns Trevon Diggs, Patrick Surtain II, Shyheim Carter and Jared Mayden to its roster.
Other guys such Josh Jobe and Jalyn Armour-Davis are growing, while Alabama has also signed a few freshmen that look to make a splash this season.
For McKinney, he is in position to possibly win the Jim Thorpe Award and earn recognition as an All-American.
He also has his eyes on becoming a first-round pick for the 2020 NFL Draft.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
