Alabama Football: Projected post-spring 2019 depth chart
Defensive Backs
CB
- Trevon Diggs (SR)
- Nigel Knott (RS JR)
- Scooby Carter (FR)
CB
- Josh Jobe (SO) OR Patrick Surtain II (SO)
- Jaylen Armour-Davis (RS FR)
- Brandon Turnage (FR) OR Marcus Banks (FR)
Star
- Patrick Surtain II (SO) OR Shyheim Carter (SR)
- Trevon Diggs (SR)
- Jared Mayden (SR)
SS
- Xavier McKinney (JR)
- Daniel Wright (RS SO)
- DeMarcco Hellams (FR)
FS
- Shyheim Carter (SR) OR Jared Mayden (SR)
- Eddie Smith (SO)
- Jordan Battle (FR)
What was a weakness in 2018 might be one of Alabama’s greatest strengths in 2019. Alabama was forced to play a lot of young players in the secondary a year ago who would have benefited from the opportunity to sit and learn. Instead, they were thrust into action and experienced some growing pains as a result.
The benefit of that is several players gained valuable experience that should boost Alabama’s secondary significantly next season.
With a lot of talent to play with, Saban and defensive coordinator Pete Golding could go several different ways with the starting group. The top three corners are unquestionably Trevon Diggs, Patrick Surtain II, and Josh Jobe. How they’ll line up remains to be seen, though.
Surtain spent a good chunk of the spring working at Star as the nickel corner, allowing Diggs and Jobe to man the outside. Diggs was Alabama’s top cornerback last season until he was lost for the year with a broken foot against Arkansas. Jobe was thrown into the lion’s den against Clemson after Saivion Smith’s injury, and acquitted himself nicely despite some spectacular plays by Justyn Ross.
Shyheim Carter was the Star last season, but with Diggs, Surtain, and Jobe, Alabama could move Carter to free safety in order to maximize the talent on the field. Carter has good instincts, and is good enough working in run support to make that a seamless transition.
Senior Jared Mayden saw plenty of action last season as well, typically coming onto the field in dime situations. He’ll start at free safety if the staff decides to keep Carter at Star.
Xavier McKinney is likely going to take on the leadership role in the secondary vacated by Deionte Thompson. McKinney was rock solid last season, and earned defensive MVP honors in the Orange Bowl. A big season for him could catapult him to the forefront of the 2020 draft.
Depth behind those guys could still be a little concerning, particularly at corner. Some easy shuffling could be done with one injury, but a second one could potentially thrust another player who isn’t quite ready to play into early action.