The cornerback position is one of the most intriguing spots for Alabama football in the upcoming season.
Maurice Linguist, Alabama’s co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach, has several talented guys on the boundary to develop into elite defenders. After losing Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold to the National Football League, the Crimson Tide looks to see if it has two lockdown corners. Alabama lost guys to other programs via the NCAA transfer portal, yet it also grabbed players from the portal in Domani Jackson, DaShawn Jones, and Kameron Howard.
Jackson, a transfer from the University of Southern California, arrived early for spring practice. Jones and Howard came during the summer to the Tide.
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Jackson, an alumnus of Mater Dei High School, is in position to be a starting corner. He has two years of experience at USC, but Jackson could be an even better player at Alabama. He wants the toughness, hard work, battle-tested culture of the Crimson Tide.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder played in 18 games as a Trojan, recording 28 tackles and four pass breakups.
Who emerges opposite Jackson as the other starting cornerback?
This will be an interesting discovery for Alabama, especially with the depth it has at cornerback.
Jones, a transfer from Wake Forest, could end up winning the role. He had 60 total tackles, seven pass breakups, and three interceptions in his career in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Howard came from a small program, University of North Carolina at Charolette, but he has playmaking abilities. Then, Alabama has Jahlil Hurley — its lone scholarship defensive back from its 2023 signing class.
Hurley was on the roster that pushed the Tide to a Southeastern Conference Championship last year. After him, Alabama has several freshmen that can play the role. Jaylen Mbakwe, Zavier Mincey, and Zabien Brown are all talented.
Brown, a California native, has the best technique of the trio as a five star.
Fall practice will give more intel as to who rises at cornerback, opposite Jackson.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
