Zabien Brown credits teammates, preparation for first non-offensive touchdown

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama’s defense has been opportunistic all year, forcing an SEC-best 24 turnovers. While the Crimson Tide offense had been better at capitalizing on the takeaways, the defense had not been able to score any points of its own in the first nine games.

Until this past Saturday.

True freshman cornerback Zabien Brown scooped up a Mercer fumble and returned it 68 yards for Alabama’s first non-offensive touchdown of the 2024 season. The score gave the Tide a 28-0 lead in the second quarter and was one of three turnovers forced in the 52-7 victory.

Alabama’s defensive players were itching to get into the end zone, and Brown ended the streak at 15 games, dating back to a fumble returned for a touchdown against Tennessee last fall. But Brown said he didn’t have to force the score; his teammates paved the way for him.

“It was really more like they just built a wall for me and I saw all my blocks, I saw how it all set up and I just followed my blockers,” said Brown after Alabama’s Tuesday practice.

But the 6-foot, 196-pound cornerback felt prepared when the chance to score presented itself.

“I think it’s really important to visualize your plays so that when the opportunity is in front of you, there’s no hesitation,” Brown said.

As is typically the case, Brown celebrated with the Tide’s other defensive players and draped a wrestling belt over his shoulder for a group picture on the sideline. This one, though, was a little bit sweeter because it ended with immediate points on the scoreboard for Alabama.

“It was great,” Brown said. “Everybody was just happy for me. I was happy to just have the opportunity.”

Also happy to see Brown cross the goal line was Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer.

“Those are exciting,” DeBoer said. “The guys talk about it, and when they come up short and they think they had a chance to score, they always hear about, ‘You should have kept along this sideline or cut back.’ And for us to get him in the end zone with that long return, it was something that’s exciting for the whole team because they have gotten the takeaways. We just hadn’t ended up with one in the end zone like that. 

“I love the mindset. Again, going back to what the defense is doing, they’re attacking. Three-and-out is what they’re shooting for. But right now, the position they’re putting our offense in, getting points on the board now, too, it’s really good.”

The Crimson Tide has forced 16 turnovers in its last five games and has the third-most gained takeaways in the nation entering Week 13 of the college football season. Alabama is beginning to embody defensive coordinator Kane Wommack’s mindset on that side of the ball.

“Just 11 hats to the ball, Swarm D mentality,” Brown said. “Everybody just making an impact.”

Brown has played in and started all 10 of Alabama’s games this season. In addition to the scoop and score, the former 5-star has tallied 11 tackles, two pass breakups and one interception. 

Brown said there wasn’t necessarily a turning point for him this fall but rather a slow buildup as he gets more comfortable in his first year of college. However, the game has slowed down.

“Most definitely, yeah,” Brown said. “Just going against our guys every day in practice, it makes games a lot easier. It’s really just like progression reads and just your eyes pretty much. 

“It allows you to just play faster.”

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