Alabama insider details how Crimson Tide landed elite 4-star CB Zay Mincey

Alabama made a splash over the weekend, landing a pair of elite four-star prospects to help round out its elite 2024 recruiting class.

Daytona Beach (Fla.) Mainland four-star cornerback Zay Mincey announced his pledge to the Crimson Tide at the All-American Bowl in San Antonio on Jan. 6. The touted defensive back was long favored to land at one of the three powerhouse programs in the Sunshine State — Florida, Florida State or Miami — but Bama stayed the course and picked up a major win.

The Tide didn’t come out of nowhere to land Mincey, the No. 48 overall prospect and No. 6 CB in the On3 Industry Ranking. Alabama recruiting insider Tim Watts joined The Inside Scoop to detail how Nick Saban and his staff were able to pull off the upset recruiting win.

“It’s pretty interesting, because early in the process we were told (Mincey) was enamored with Nick Saban, Alabama and the fact that the head football coach was a defensive back guy,” Watts told On3’s Josh Newberg. “Of course, you factor in the NFL lineage of guys playing in the secondary playing in the NFL that they developed … we knew that would factor in.”

Mincey took an unofficial visit to Tuscaloosa in June and made an official trip in October. Toss in game visits and late trips made by Saban and defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson, and Alabama became too good of an opportunity for Mincey to pass up.

The track record in T-Town speaks for itself, at the end of the day. Mincey has seen the sheer amount of high-profile defensive backs that have gone on to bigger and better things after playing in Bryant-Denny Stadium. As appealing as staying in Florida may have been, Mincey found everything he was looking for at Alabama.

“We also knew that Alabama had a really good defensive back class and we also knew that the three in-state schools were 90-to-nothing on getting him to sign. Huge win, Alabama just won it — I think relationships, Travaris Robinson did a terrific job there and again, Saban played a big role, the University of Alabama played a big role,” Watts said.

Mincey joins star-studded DBs class for Alabama

Alabama’s late December push propelled up to No. 2 in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. Now that it has officially added Mincey and Meridian (Miss.) four-star running back Daniel Hill, things continue to look up for the Tide.

Mincey is now one of seven DB signees in Bama’s 2024 recruiting class. He, Pinson (Ala.) Clay-Chalkville five-star CB Jaylen Mbakwe and Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei four-star CB Zabien Brown are all top-60 overall prospects. Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco four-star safety Peyton Woodyard, Tampa Catholic four-star CB Jameer Grimsley, Phenix City (Ala.) Central three-star safety Red Morgan and Gadsden (Ala.) City three-star safety Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. round out the stellar group.

“When you look at their class, it’s full of standout guys in the secondary and (Mincey) is right up there near the top with any of them,” Watts said.

Mincey has an On3 NIL Valuation of $141K. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.

Zay Mincey Scouting Summary

“Tall, athletic and versatile defensive back with signs that point to a high developmental upside. Measured at over 6-foot-2.5 and around 180 pounds prior to his senior season. Has plus length with a wing-span over 6-foot-7. Primarily lines up at corner for his high school team. Shows good coverage instincts. Undercuts routes to make plays on the ball. Runs well in coverage and stays attached on vertical routes. Can flip his hips as a taller defensive back. Uses his length to disrupt receivers at the line of scrimmage and make plays on the ball.

…Can track and locate the football over his shoulder. A three-sport athlete. Backs up his athleticism in track and field with a 6-4 high jump and 43-foot triple jump. Also plays basketball for a team that made a deep playoff run. Needs to continue adding strength and can improve his tackling. While widely viewed as a safety, could feasibly play as a bump and run cornerback in certain schemes.”