Alabama Football: Projecting Tide’s 2-deep depth chart for 2019

Secondary

Starting cornerbacks: Trevon Diggs, Josh Jobe
Backups: Patrick Surtain, Jalyn Armour-Davis

Alabama plays nickel for the majority of snaps, which is why Patrick Surtain is listed as a backup corner. He will likely replace Josh Jobe in a when the Tide go to their traditional 3-4 scheme, but he and Trevon Diggs will get the start in nickel.

Diggs is another player coming off of an injury last season. If he is completely healthy, he will be one of the best corners in the country. After making the transition from receiver to corner, he has established himself as an elite player with the Tide.

Starting STAR: Patrick Surtain
Backup: Shyheim Carter

This could go one of two ways. Saban isn’t afraid to shift corners to safeties in order to put his best four or five defensive backs on the field at once. It worked with both Eddie Jackson and Minkah Fitzpatrick. If he wants Jobe to be in the starting lineup at corner, Surtain will shift to STAR.

If not, Surtain will start at corner and Shyheim Carter will play in the slot. Either way, the STAR corner will be great in coverage. Carter played with the second team in the spring game, but he was limited due to injury. Once he is healthy at the start of the year, I see him working a lot into Alabama’s rotation.

Starting Safeties: Shyheim Carter (FS), Xavier McKinney (SS)
Backups: Jared Mayden (FS), Eddie Smith (SS)

This is nowhere near confirmed, but I believe Shy Carter will start at free safety to begin the year. Xavier McKinney played great at the end of last season, and he is a lock to be the Tide’s strong safety. Mayden has a great chance to steal that starting role that Deionte Thompson left, but Carter is a better defensive back in my opinion.

There are five defensive backs that appear to be legitimate starters, and Mayden is on the outside looking in as of right now in my eyes. If the team plays any dime coverage, expect Mayden to be free safety.

At the end of the day, these depth charts are still up in the air. Nick Saban will put the best players on the field, and that is yet to be determined in some positions. With the season approaching, here is what I expect the depth chart to look like against Duke.