On3 Roundtable: Alabama's secondary depth stands out on 2023 roster

For years a staple of the Alabama Crimson Tide defense has been their secondary, a unit that’s been notoriously dominant and continuously produces NFL-level talent. And last year was no different, with three Crimson Tide defensive backs being selected in the 2023 NFL Draft.

But as the 2023 season approaches, BamaOnline‘s Clint Lamb and Jimmy Stein believe that Alabama’s defensive backfield could yet again be dominant despite losing some key players.

“Yeah it’s not the star power for me Clint so much as it’s the depth is incredible,” Stein said. “In a year, you just went over that list of players Alabama lost, how in the world does Alabama have quality depth after you lose all those guys?”

Brian Branch, Jordan Battle, and DeMarcco Hellams exit stage left and start their career in the NFL this upcoming season, but in Tuscaloosa, a combination of experienced and new talent has Stein optimistic about the Crimson Tide secondary.

“But the depth is what stands out to me, I see nine guys capable of playing some role or another from Kool-Aid (McKinstry) and Earl Little and Terrion Arnold at cornerback, and Trey Amos, that’s four. And then as many as five safeties, Malachi Moore, Caleb Downs, Kristian Story, Jaylen Key, even DeVonta Smith who missed the spring that the coaching staff is very high on,” Stein said.

From experienced veterans, to exiting new transfers, and unproven highly touted recruits, Alabama’s secondary is loaded with talent and seems to have it all. The only question that now remains with all of that depth is who will start and receive significant playing time this upcoming season.

“That’s nine guys that are all capable of vying for these six starting roles; two corners, two safeties, a star which is the nickel corner, and money which is kind of a third safety they play when they do to six defensive backs,” Stein explained. “So you’re looking for six starters, Malachi’s back, Kool-Aid’s back, so that’s two. Who are kind of gonna be the four new guys is the question, but there is a nice pool of candidates to select from.”

Alabama’s secondary held opponents to just 186 yards per game in the air last year, their best output in the last three seasons. It seems like they’ll be able to uphold that standard in 2023, but who will be the ones doing the defending is the real question.