Alabama’s 6-foot-4 transfer DB putting in work to be impactful in 2026 season

Alabama’s defense has a new type at the cornerback position.

Kane Wommack likes his guys long, rangy, and athletic.

VIDEO: 5 things we learned in first week of Alabama spring practice

He craves having corners that are built like safeties, but have cornerback speed and ball skills. Wommack has a physical specimen in Dijon Lee Jr. at 6-foot-4, yet he snatched another impressive wingspan defender via the portal.

Carmelo O’Neal, a transfer from Mercer, may be taller than Lee.

He is listed at 6’4” on the Crimson Tide’s roster, weighing in at 209 pounds.

The Atlanta (Ga.) native played 23 games across two seasons for the Bears – totaling 54 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, 12 pass breakups, and a forced fumble. He had a team-high 10 breakups as a sophomore in 2025. Lee and Zabien Brown are the Tide’s two boundary corners; however, O’Neal never shies away from competition. He used his spring break to train at ADAPT athlete, an athletic development and performance therapy facility in Atlanta, to prepare himself for an impactful junior year.

Alabama transfer Carmelo O’Neal training with the man @jtalphabet_ during spring break.

6-foot-4 defensive back should make an immediate impact for the Crimson Tide in the secondary…@CarmeloOneal1 @ADAPTathlete pic.twitter.com/uir90VLwb0

— Brett Greenberg (@BrettGreenberg_) March 21, 2026

O’Neal did strength training and core work that will put his body in the best situation to prevent wide receivers from creating plays against him. Wommack’s 4-2-5 system generates reps for several defensive backs to have an impact.

What Carmelo O’Neal will bring to the Alabama defense

Alabama fans will now lock in more on O’Neal.

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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.