Alabama DB coach discusses CB Zay Mincey getting reps at safety
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama is off this weekend thanks to its second bye week of the 2024 season. That’s good news for the Crimson Tide’s young players, especially in the secondary.
“We have a lot of young players back there, so every opportunity to get out on the practice field with them and continue to grow, watch film with them – things kind of slow to slow down a little bit on a bye week, and a lot of development can happen when it slows down,” said Alabama safeties coach Colin Hitschler after Wednesday’s practice.
“So it’s a big advantage for a younger team to have an extra bye week.”
One of those young players is true freshman defensive back Zay Mincey. The former 5-star has played in all eight of Alabama’s games this season, but last week’s shutout win over Mizzou was his first game with double-digit defensive snaps since the Tide’s first game.
However, Mincey, the nation’s No. 3 cornerback in the 2024 class, lined up in the back end of UA’s defense at safety for the first time and registered four tackles in just 13 snaps.
“It was exciting,” Hitschler said. “A kid that has moved around a little bit for us and continues the growth. I mean, all the freshmen have been excellent at different times throughout the year, and we’re excited to get Zay on the field more. He’s a really, really talented player.”
Mincey was one of three 5-star cornerbacks who signed with Alabama this past recruiting cycle, along with Zabien Brown and Jaylen Mbakwe. But after the season opener, he has mostly only played on special teams. Mincey did not get in the last game defensively until the fourth quarter, but it marked the first time we have seen him play snaps at safety.
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Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer mentioned more cross-training earlier this week.
“You can kind of almost see that that’s gonna be something that they might be down the road,” DeBoer said. “I think we maybe envisioned that for some of them. We just have to get some of those things sooner than what we probably anticipated, and that being right now.”
With that in mind, Hitschler said Mincey has spent practice time working with the safeties after starter Keon Sabb suffered a lower-extremity injury and will be “down for a while.”
“Definitely,” Hitschler said. “I think he’s one of many that have moved around a little bit due to just the adversity we’ve faced and the length of the season. We’re excited to get those guys on the field because they deserve it. They’re great players.”
At 6-foot-3, 204 pounds, Mincey is not only the biggest cornerback on Alabama’s roster but the biggest defensive back. His size makes his move to safety, temporary or not, make sense.
“He has an excellent future,” Hitschler said. “I’m excited to see him continue to grow.”
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