Alabama’s second scrimmage opened fans to three defensive backs in a deep secondary, including a former Gatorade Player of the Year out of high school.
Kristian Story, a four-star in the Crimson Tide’s 2020 recruiting class, was nothing short of special at Lanett High School — leading the program to a state championship in 2019. As a defensive player, Story brings size, ball skills, coverage skills, and speed to excel either as a safety or dime “Money” linebacker. After not playing his initial freshman season, Story worked mostly on special teams in 2021. He served as a backup safety last year in 13 games, collecting five tackles. The 6-foot-2, 211-pounder has positioned himself for an opportunity to become impactful as a senior. Alabama has versatile depth in its secondary, but both safety positions are available. According to sources, Touchdown Alabama Magazine learned that Story recorded a pick-six off Jalen Milroe and the first-team offense in Saturday’s scrimmage. He is a bonafide playmaker, but can he lock up a safety spot?
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Nick Saban discussed Story with reporters following practice.
“Kristian has been in the program a long time,” Saban said.
“He knows what he is doing. I think he has to learn how to play consistently with a high level of intensity so he can execute to his capabilities. He has really good ball skills and is very instinctive. We want him to have the juice that a starter needs to have all the time. That is the expectation the other players have, and it is the expectation we have for anybody who is a starter.”
The translation I get from Saban’s statement is Story has moments of brilliance and moments of mistakes.
If he can clean up the small things, Story will be a factor in the secondary.
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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.
