Kane Wommack calls Keon Sabb a 'very special talent'

Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack expects defensive back Keon Sabb to make waves during his first season with the Crimson Tide. On Thursday, Wommack praised the Michigan transfer’s defensive abilities.

“Keon is a very special talent,” Wommack said. “He had some tremendous production at Michigan. Won a national championship there. We’re very fortunate to have that production and experience because experience is finite.

“For us, I think he has done a really good job of leaning into our scheme and what we do. I thought day one, week one, he did a really great job of going the extra mile to get the verbiage and the terminology down so that he could go execute and play at a high level. Now, you see him starting to lead on the back end.”

Before transferring to Alabama this offseason, Sabb spent two seasons with Michigan, where he made 18 appearances and four starts. In the 2023 campaign, Sabb tallied 28 tackles, 0.5 sacks, four passes defended and two interceptions, including a pick-six.

Alabama will welcome Keon Sabb’s experience with open arms. Alabama has a mere 33% of its defensive production from last season returning for Kalen DeBoer‘s debut at the helm of the program.

Greg McElroy declares Kalen DeBoer ‘knows what he’s doing’

Despite Alabama’s roster turnover, ESPN’s Greg McElroy believes the Crimson Tide will be one of the best teams in the nation.

“A lot of people want to take Alabama out of this discussion. I understand that because people have so much respect for Nick Saban,” McElroy said. “But, here’s what I’ve kind of come to realize. You can respect Nick Saban and what he’s done, and still acknowledge that Alabama might be still pretty good moving forward under Kalen DeBoer.

“If you give Kalen DeBoer his flowers, you’re not taking away from what Nick Saban’s accomplished. I think people are having a difficult time with that right now. Kalen DeBoer is fresh off a 25-3 record at Washington the last couple of years. He was 67-3 in NAIA. As a Division I head coach, he’s 37-9. He’s 12-2 against ranked opponents at both Washington and Fresno State. And he just had 10 guys drafted in the NFL. I think he knows what he’s doing.”

Alabama will kick off its 2024 campaign in a showdown against Western Kentucky at 7 p.m. ET on Aug. 31. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.