Alabama football’s defensive coordinator Kane Wommack is looking to build depth at a critical spot in the Crimson Tide’s secondary this spring ahead of the 2025 season.
Wommack enters his second season in Tuscaloosa with the intention of identifying a contingent of versatile defensive backs to help establish depth at the husky position. This member of the Tide’s secondary will serve as the fifth defensive back in Alabama’s secondary in its nickel package.
Wommack’s plan is a result of Alabama losing DeVonta Smith to the transfer portal and a lack of returning experience at the position. The Tide’s defensive coordinator feels a lot of crossover could happen in the Tide’s secondary in the future, and the husky position could be a beneficiary of this.
“We’ve got a fairly deep secondary, so there’s a lot of positional crossover,” Wommack said. “So right now, it’s trying to figure out once we come back from spring break ‘who are the guys that were going to try to get a few extra reps at that nickle position, husky position. And try to build depth for us as a defense, which is something that we did not have in the secondary a year ago… We need to try to build that overlap.”
DaShawn Jones started at husky against Michigan and is the projected starter. Here is a look at some younger players, who could provide depth at the position.
1. Dre Kirkpatrick Jr.
Kirkpatrick Jr. is a sophomore defensive back with potential, being listed at 6-foot and 200 pounds. The former three-star and Alabama native appeared in 13 games last season and recorded three tackles as a primary contributor on special teams. Wommack highlighted Kirkpatrick as a guy, who was impressive last week.
“He’s (DaShawn Jones) been out a little bit,” Wommack said. “So just now getting to see him a little bit there, going through individual and stuff. Been really impressed with Dre Kirkpatrick. He’s doing some really good things.”
2. Zavier Mincey
The Alabama secondary will also have the luxury of inserting another flexible defensive back with size in sophomore, Zayvier Mincey. Mincey began his career in Tuscaloosa last fall primarily contributing on special teams before transitioning from cornerback to safety midway through his true freshman season. Mincey appeared in 13 games and registered 16 total tackles, including a season-high seven tackles in the 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl for Alabama against Michigan.
3. Dijon Lee Jr.
With departures of veteran husky defensive backs Malachi Moore, DeVonta Smith and King Mack the Tide secondary will look to rely on a couple of new names this spring. Alabama true freshman defensive back, Dijon Lee Jr. is one of those names. Lee is a former five-star prospect from Mission Viejo High school in California. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 197 pounds, expect Lee to provide much depth to the Crimson Tide secondary this season at possibly both cornerback and as a hybrid safety. It is likely Lee could demand to get on the field.
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