Why Alabama is excited about 6-foot-4 transfer CB this spring

Alabama Defensive Back Carmelo O’Neal (28) during practice at Thomas-Drew Practice Fields in Tuscaloosa, AL on Sunday, Mar 8, 2026. - Photo via Alabama Athletics

The position group with the most starters returning to Alabama’s defense is the defensive backs, but there is also a transfer portal addition who goes against the mold of a typical cornerback.   

Before the 2025 Iron Bowl, defensive coordinator Kane Wommack was watching Auburn play Mercer, and the 6-foot-4 corner Carmelo O’Neal caught the eye of Wommack. 

“We were watching Auburn, and they had played Mercer the week before, and I was like, ‘Damn, who is this long DB that they got at Mercer?’” Wommack said. “And then, Mo [Maurice Linguist] and our recruiting staff, we found him through our transfer portal evaluations, and kid’s great. He’s hungry. He wants to take a step forward. He knows that there’s some things from a fundamental standpoint that he can grow in, and he’s like a sponge right now. I mean, you teach him something, he picks up on it really fast.”

O’Neal is slightly taller than returning starter Dijon Lee Jr., who also has a rare build for a cornerback. Now, Alabama has two cornerbacks with size, length and solid footwork. 

“You just don’t see a guy that you know, we’re already long in the secondary, but then all of a sudden, he’s a little taller than Dijon Lee, which is hard to believe, and still has corner feet,” Wommack said. “So, there’s a lot of things we could do with him, but right now, he’s doing a really nice job on the outside. I’m excited about him.”

Lee himself spoke to the media on Friday, and he’s still getting used to having a guy in his position group that’s slightly taller than him. 

“You know, it’s kinda weird,” Lee said with a grin. “I was the tallest corner last year, but I mean, me and Carmelo, I think he might be a little taller than me now, so it’s just different, you know. The game’s changing every day. Corners are getting taller, so it’s just kind of weird a little bit, but yeah.”

Both O’Neal and Lee are listed at 6-foot-4, and O’Neal weighs 209 pounds, five more than Lee.

Lee went on to explain what the benefits are of having this height as a corner.

“Kind of hard for the quarterback to fit the ball in,” Lee said, “You know, take a lot of space on the outside, boundary, field. Either way, not many quarterbacks can throw the ball over a 6-foot-4 corner, and if it is, it’s a perfect ball.” 

The secondary is shaping up to be the most experienced room the Crimson Tide will have in 2026, but it could also be the deepest with all of the talent the team brought in this offseason.