As we prepare for the start of Alabama’s 2022 season, the staff for Touchdown Alabama Magazine will be previewing position groups in preseason camp.
The Crimson Tide returns veterans, young players, and depth at every position.
Alabama’s focus is to return to the College Football Playoff and win a national championship. Coach Nick Saban is pursuing the eighth national title of his career and seventh for the Tide. He wants to see excellence on both sides of the ball, and the season begins on Saturday, Sept. 3.
We now shift our focus to Alabama football’s cornerback room.
Alabama’s Cornerback Room
-Returners: Khyree Jackson (Senior), Jahquez Robinson (Junior), Kool-Aid McKinstry (Sophomore), Terrion Arnold (Redshirt Freshman)
-Newcomers: Eli Ricks (Junior), Antonio Kite (Freshman), Tre’Quon Fegans (Freshman)
-Expected starter: Kool-Aid McKinstry, Khyree Jackson
Summary:
Alabama football entered fall camp with competition at the cornerback position.
After losing last year’s starting cornerbacks, Jalyn Armour-Davis and Josh Jobe, to the NFL, the Crimson Tide have a group of guys fighting for a chance to get on the field. Fortunately for Alabama, they return two cornerbacks with experience. Kool-Aid McKinstry and Khyree Jackson enjoyed a good amount of playing time throughout the 2021 football season.
McKinstry played in 15 games last season, and he was named to the Freshman All-SEC Team. The Pinson Valley High School product earned his first start against Mercer and started in several games late in the season. He finished his freshman campaign with 25 tackles and one interception.
Jackson saw a lot of playing time in the College Football Playoff, and he made his first start in the National Championship. The Maryland native had 7 total tackles and two pass deflections in 2021.
The Crimson Tide did use the transfer portal to beef up this position group with former five-star, Eli Ricks. Ricks played in 14 games through two seasons at LSU. As a freshman, he had four interceptions.
Many considered McKinstry, Jackson and Ricks as the favorites to lock up the starting cornerback spots heading into fall camp, but a few returners without much experience have made noise in the race to get on the field. Nick Saban has highlighted Terrion Arnold and Jahquez Robinson as players, who have shown they can contribute this season.
Alabama usually releases its depth chart a few days before the first game of the season. All eyes will be on who gets the nod to start at cornerback against Utah State.
