By WVUA 23 Sports Reporter Theodore Fernandez
As fall camp in Tuscaloosa comes to a close, the secondary remains a big question mark for Alabama football. There are just over two weeks until the start of the season, and the starting positions are still up for grabs on a unit that lost Terrion Arnold, Kool-Aid McKinstry, Jaylen Key and Caleb Downs from last year’s team. Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack has been impressed with the performance of the young secondary so far, while also acknowledging the work of the remaining veteran leaders who have accelerated the development of the younger and less experienced players.
The most established star in the secondary is Malachi Moore. Moore, a fifth-year senior who served as a permanent team captain in 2023, is one of the most respected players on the team. He enters 2024 as the clear face of the group and his value is clearly recognized by Wommack.
“Experience is limited,” Wommack said. “There’s only so many reps, there’s only so many FBS games and only 11 players can represent your team on the field at any given time. So when you have that experience on your team, it pays off in the things they see. I think for us on defense, we spent so much time in the offseason perfecting our concepts of what we do as a defense and understanding the bigger picture. Not just your role as a safety for Malachi … but when you come into the season, it’s about offensive recognition. And these guys have seen so many reps over the years, they’ve seen so many different plays and been attacked in different ways. And now a defense that is inherently reactionary is turning into the ability to play with anticipation. I think these older guys that have that experience can do that at a higher level than some of these younger players.”
Moore will start at free safety this season and is expected to play alongside DeVonta Smith, the HUSKY’s projected starter. The redshirt junior battled injuries throughout much of his Crimson Tide career but now appears to have finally turned things around.
“I would say the thing I’ve grown the most in terms of maturity off the field is the way I take care of my body,” Smith said. “I definitely take care of my body in ways that I’ve learned from other people outside of here.”
Smith’s story is very similar to Domani Jackson’s. Both were elite recruits out of high school who were held back by injuries early in their careers but now hold starting spots in Alabama’s secondary. Jackson in particular is emerging as a leader of the unit, highlighted by his mentorship of true freshman Zabien Brown.
Time will tell how ready this secondary is. Wommack emphasized the value of game experience several times during Wednesday’s post-practice press conference, and it’s undeniable that this year’s unit has deficiencies in that regard compared to previous Crimson Tide teams. But with the leadership and experience of Moore, Smith and Jackson, there’s reason to believe Wommack’s secondary can exceed expectations in 2024.
