Saban sheds light on options at safety; reveals injury to junior DB
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama did not release a Week 1 depth chart on Monday, choosing to avoid distractions for the players and wait until game day to reveal the pecking orders. But head coach Nick Saban did reveal some nuggets as far as how the secondary could look.
Saban was asked about the progress of those competing at the safety position this preseason.
“Caleb (Downs) has done a really good job,” Saban said. “I know he’s a young player, but he’s done a really good job. He’s smart. He’s bright. He understands football very well. Jaylen Key has done a really good job. He’s got a lot of experience. Even though he hasn’t played here, he’s played other places in a very similar system. Those two guys have done a good job.”
Downs joined the Crimson Tide program during the team’s Sugar Bowl prep in December and has generated positive buzz ever since. A former 5-star recruit, he started the A-Day Game at safety, picking off a pass just before halftime in the spring game, and has consistently worked with the first-team defense leading up to his true freshman season at Alabama.
Key is another newcomer, although he has plenty of college experience already under his belt. The UAB transfer arrived on campus in late May after five years in Birmingham, Ala., and added another needed veteran to the Tide secondary. Leading up to the start of the 2023 season, Key has worked at multiple positions but received a lot of safety reps with the ones.
“They’re working on the little things,” said linebacker Deontae Lawson of the safeties. “They’re all doing a great job. I’m really just excited to see how they’re gonna do against our opponent.”
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Those appear to be Alabama’s starting safeties in advance of the opener, with senior Malachi Moore working at Star. Saban also mentioned Moore on Monday, once again pointing out how the versatile defender can line up in the slot at Star or back deep at safety. Moore figures to be part of the defensive plan, but Saban pointed out a couple of other options, too.
One player that was generating some buzz early in fall camp was DeVonta Smith, a junior in the secondary who has played in 16 career games as a backup and special teams contributor but was getting some work with the first-team defense. Saban revealed Smith has been hampered by an injury of late as the Crimson Tide continues to plan for a new season.
“Smitty’s been out with his foot for a while, and we certainly think that he would be in the mix if he were healthy,” Saban said. “Kristian Story is a dependable guy at the position. So that’s kind of where it’s at right now.”
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