Kalen DeBoer and the staff he hired to the University of Alabama had the responsibility of keeping the 2024 recruiting class together after Nick Saban retired from coaching in January.
A few players from the class were talented cornerbacks, including two five stars.
Zabien Brown, a California native, arrived on campus as an early enrollee from Mater Dei High School.
He came in at 180 pounds on a 6-foot frame, but bulked up to 196 pounds to start his freshman year at Alabama. Brown has grown tremendously throughout the season in 12 games as a starter.
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He has 17 tackles, two tackles for loss, two pass breakups, two interceptions, and a fumble returned for a 66-yard touchdown.
Brown started Alabama’s conference schedule with a game-sealing interception versus Georgia on Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Sept. 28. His performance propelled Kalen DeBoer to his first victory over Kirby Smart in a marquee matchup.
Brown returned in the Iron Bowl and made sure Auburn did not clinch a bowl berth by picking off Payton Thorne.
His development into a lockdown defender is getting sharper. Maurice Linguist, Alabama’s cornerbacks coach, has done an outstanding job of preparing Brown and putting him in situations to succeed. He is trusting his technique, playing with great eye discipline and leverage, and making plays on the ball. The Crimson Tide may lose Domani Jackson to the NFL Draft after the season ends, but it has something special in Brown for years to come. Germie Bernard, a wide receiver for the Tide, sees it.
“That kid is aa tremendous player,” Bernard said about Brown after the game. “He is a freshman, but does not play like it. He continues to work each and every week. He comes into the building with the right mindset and tries to make everyone around him better. He takes to the coaching, and I know he is going to have a tremendous career at Alabama.”
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Alabama has had some elite defensive backs that started dominating as freshmen. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Patrick Surtain II, Malachi Moore, Kool-Aid McKinstry, and Brian Branch are the first five names off the top of my head.
Brown has All-American and Jim Thorpe talent written on him.
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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.
