Alabama DB Zay Mincey seeing role grow during bowl preparations
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Alabama safety room looks a whole lot thinner entering the ReliaQuest Bowl than it did to start the season. Starting safety Keon Sabb has been out since the middle of the year with a foot injury, starting husky DeVonta Smith entered the transfer portal and committed to Notre Dame, and today it was announced that All-American safety Malachi Moore will miss the game due to requiring surgery.
That’s left the door wide open for young players to step up and get some important reps during bowl preparations, with Bray Hubbard being the lone returning starter at safety from the last game the Crimson Tide played.
When asked which players had stepped up in his eyes during the start of bowl preparations, Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack specifically mentioned freshman Zay Mincey.
“The guy that I think has really done a nice job and we’ve seen him trend in the right direction all season is Zay Mincey,” Wommack said. “I think you’ll see his role continue to grow within our defense within the bowl game preparation and then beyond that. I’m really excited about him and what he’s doing. There’s a number of young DBs that are gonna be expected to step up in certain ways.”
Mincey came to Alabama as one of the top-rated cornerback recruits in the 2024 class, alongside teammates Zabien Brown and Jaylen Mbakwe. Brown and Mbakwe saw serious playing time at cornerback during their true freshman season, but Mincey played mostly on special teams throughout the year.
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Over midway through the season, it was learned that Mincey changed positions from cornerback to safety, and saw all his reps on the defensive side of the ball at safety for the remainder of the season. Now with reps available for the taking, Mincey has the chance to be a major contributor at the safety position in this bowl game.
“This is something that Coach Saban tried to identify and do, it’s something we tried to identify and do, you always want to get great coverage DBs, and then figure out where they go,” Wommack said. “Here’s a dude that’s 6-2, he’s over 200 pounds now, he has great coverage skills because he’s played a corner position his whole career. Now he’s moved to the safety position, he has the physicality, he has the ability to diagnose, which certainly the safety position makes a lot more checks and communication and all those things. And he’s got a natural feel for when the ball is in the air as a post safety or drop-in safety.
“To me, the sky’s the limit for him and I’m really excited with what I have seen for him thus far at the safety position.”
Alongside Mincey, Alabama will have to look to other players such as Red Morgan, King Mack, or others for contributions at the safety spot with limited experienced options.
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