How Alabama football’s lengthy cornerbacks are pushing Tide pass catchers this spring

Alabama Defensive Back Carmelo O’Neal (28) during practice Spring Practice at Hank Crisp Indoor Facility in Tuscaloosa, AL on Thursday, Mar 12, 2026. - Photo via Alabama Athletics

Alabama is one of the only teams in the nation with two cornerbacks who are both 6-foot-4, and one could imagine what it is like practicing against the lengthy corners.

The Crimson Tide has returning starter Dijon Lee Jr. and Mercer transfer Carmelo O’Neal on top of having other returning defensive backs like Zabien Brown, Bray Hubbard and Keon Sabb. Having two 6-foot-4 corners is rare, and it sounds like it’s pushing Alabama’s pass catchers to think harder when competing against either Lee or O’Neal.

On Tuesday, tight end Kaleb Edwards was asked about going up against the lengthy Alabama defensive backs.

“It’s great,” Edwards said. “It makes me have to use different moves than just being able to overpower maybe a smaller DB or something like that, so just having to develop even more.”

 For a tight end like Edwards, his responsibility extends beyond catching passes as tight ends are a big part of the Alabama run game. Based on where Edwards is lined up and where cornerbacks like Lee or O’Neal are on the field, there can be opportunities for Edwards to block one of these lengthy players on certain plays. That also means there are instances where the cornerbacks can use their length to get off of blocks and bring down ball carriers.

In the passing game, the lengthy cornerbacks can knock players off their routes and cover more space. They can also use their size to not be easily discarded if there is contact between wideouts and the corners. If a corner can have this size and still have “corner feet” like Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said two weeks ago about O’Neal, then skill players will have more of a challenge when it comes to getting open or blocking. These are a few of the reasons why having 6-foot-4 corners in your secondary can be beneficial. 

In Edwards’ experience, he can say having two 6-foot-4 corners on the same team is a rarity. 

“Oh yeah, for sure,” Edwards said. “But I think like I said, it’s a blessing just because I can perform and develop that side of my game.”

There may not be too many plays where Lee and O’Neal are on the field at the same time because Brown is arguably the top cornerback on the roster and Lee is a returning starter, but it would be a tough challenge for any team’s skill players if both of the Crimson Tide’s lengthy corners were on the field at the same time.