He stepped on the field for the University of Alabama in 2025 and became a highly impactful freshman, but is this former five-star capable of more in year two?
Dijon Lee, a California native, presented Alabama’s defense with something it never had before – a cornerback that is built like a safety, yet has the athleticism of a corner. The 6-foot-4, 204-pounder possessed range that led him to playing 15 games, including five starts in the defensive secondary. Lee earned a spot on the Southeastern Conference’s All-Freshman Team, following a year of 34 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, and two interceptions.
5 things we learned from Alabama football’s first full week of spring practice
He was a finalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award; however, Lee understands the opportunity he has to be a vital piece of what could be the best secondary in college football. The Crimson Tide returns Bray Hubbard, Keon Sabb, Red Morgan, and Zabien Brown with Lee. It is hard for quarterbacks to fit perfect passes over the length of 6’4” corner, though Lee named some areas in his media availability in spring practice where he can improve.
“I want to read the quarterback a little more,” Lee said as an area to improve. “We have been working on it in spring, but I definitely want to read the quarterback. Three-step drops, quick game, five-step drops … reading the tackles, just making sure I know the run, pass situations.”
He wants to be a complete player and part of it is having a leadership role.
Lee has embraced teaching the young names, especially after learning from Hubbard, Sabb, Brown, and Domani Jackson last year. He said he ‘sees things differently’ after having a season under his belt where was in live action. Lee posted his first career interception versus an SEC opponent in Missouri, while his second pick came against Eastern Illinois.
He could have had more than two, but there were a couple of moments where the talented defender did not finish. Hopefully, his focus on reading quarterbacks will help him bait them more into poor decisions and he capitalizes on those in the fall.
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Stephen M. Smith is a team writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
