Alabama’s cornerbacks will settle in as they grow, but the Crimson Tide may have the two best safeties in college football.
Malachi Moore, a fifth-year senior, is established at Alabama. He has a College Football Playoff National Championship ring and several other individual honors. Moore became a permanent team captain after helping the Tide capture a Southeastern Conference Championship in 2023; however, he is searching for more hardware in the upcoming season.
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Keon Sabb, a transfer from the University of Michigan, brings Moore much help.
Alabama lost Caleb Downs, a Freshman All-SEC player, to Ohio State in the NCAA transfer portal. Sabb, a New Jersey native, comes in with national championship experience. He assisted the Wolverines to a CFP national title in 2023, posting 28 tackles, five pass breakups, two interceptions, and a pick-six. The 6-foot-1, 208-pounder arrived in spring practice and gleaned a lot from Moore and his new teammates. Kane Wommack, Alabama’s defensive coordinator, says the Tide is ‘fortunate’ to have Sabb.
He praised the transfer safety’s experience after Thursday’s practice in fall camp.
Alabama DC Kane Wommack has been impressed with how quickly DB Keon Sabb has fit this secondary as a transfer:
“Keon is a very special talent. He has done a very good job of leaning into our scheme and what we do.”@TDAlabamaMag @TouchdownETP pic.twitter.com/EGAFeTHYD6
— Stephen M. Smith (@CoachingMSmith) August 1, 2024
“Keon is a very special talent,” Wommack said.
“Obviously, he had some tremendous production at Michigan. He won a national championship there. For us, I think he has done a good job of leaning into our scheme, what we do, and I thought from day one he did a really good job of going the extra mile to get the verbiage and terminology down. You are starting to now see him lead on the back end. He and Malachi Moore have done a tremendous job of communication on the back end.”
The addition of Sabb has allowed Alabama’s corners to grow at a steady pace. His experience and communication has players where they need to be on the field to be successful. Some look at him as a solid player, yet Sabb may be elite for the Tide.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
