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Here’s how Alabama football’s safeties shape up heading into fall camp

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Here’s how Alabama football’s safeties shape up heading into fall camp


This offseason, Alabama football was tasked with replacing every defensive back from its 2023 roster aside from Malachi Moore.

At corner, the Crimson Tide returns one member from its 2023 squad in Jahlil Hurley. At safety, it returns three members from its 2023 roster, including Moore, and brings in transfers Keon Sabb (Michigan), King Mack (Penn State) and Kameron Howard (Charlotte) from the portal and two true freshmen from its 2024 recruiting cycle.

Via the transfer portal, the Crimson Tide lost Caleb Downs to Ohio State, who led the team in tackles in 2023 (107). It also lost Jake Pope (Georgia), Kristian Story (Kentucky) to the transfer portal and Jaylen Key to the NFL Draft.

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Alabama also brings in coaches Maurice Linguist and Colin Hitschler, who joined coach Kalen DeBoer’s staff over the offseason and are in charge of the Crimson Tide’s defensive backfield under new defensive coordinator Kane Wommack. Wommack will be instilling his 4-2-5 “Swarm” defense at Alabama, brought with him from South Alabama.

Wommack will be introducing new terminology to the Crimson Tide safety room: Rover, the strong safety, and Husky, a more hybrid player who is essentially the nickel defensive back in Wommack’s system compared to that of former coach Nick Saban’s.

Here is how Alabama’s safeties room looks heading into fall camp. Every scholarship player and any notable walk-on is mentioned:

The options for Alabama football at safety

Projected starters: Rover: Keon Sabb, r-so.; FS: Malachi Moore, gr.; Husky: Devonta Smith, r-jr.

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Reserves: King Mack, so.; Kameron Howard, so.; Bray Hubbard, so.; Dre Kirkpatrick Jr., fr.; Red Morgan, fr.

Sabb was a huge pickup for the Crimson Tide from the portal. He brings with him two years of elite college football experience, including one as a national champion with the Wolverines. He tallied 28 tackles, one for loss, along with four pass break ups and two interceptions in 2023.

Moore typically manned the-now Husky role for the Crimson Tide last season, but expect to see him perhaps man the free safety position this season. Last year, Moore was named a permanent team captain and started in 13 games, tallying 52 tackles, five for loss, to go with five pass breakups, one interception and one quarterback hurry.

Smith spent the first half of 2023 rehabbing from injury, but was able to see time in four games, where he collected four total tackles.

Howard saw time in nine games for the Crimson Tide in 2023 contributing on special teams. Mack appeared in 13 games at Penn State as a true freshman, totaling three tackles and a quarterback hurry. Howard saw time in 12 games at Charlotte last season and started in two of them, registering 38 tackles with 0.5 for loss to go with two interceptions and one pass breakup.

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Morgan comes to Tuscaloosa as a four-star prospect and Kirkpatrick Jr. a three-star, per the 247Sports Composite.

The upside

Wommack’s defense might be a learning curve for the Crimson Tide players but should be one that should be easy for players to catch on to.

Speaking at SEC Media Days in Dallas, Moore spoke of the differences between the two systems, calling coach Saban’s defense “very complex,” while referring to Wommack’s as “a lot simpler.”

“Coach Saban’s defense was a very complex style of defense from making checks to motions and different formations and alignments of receivers. It was a very complex system to be in and you had to be a very good communicator, you had to be very smart,” Moore said. “In this defense, now under Coach Wommack it’s a lot of vision coverage and it’s a lot simpler from people who were in coach Saban’s defense. A lot more eyes on the quarterback allowing you to make plays on the ball and get more turnovers.”

Players will also have plenty of time to adjust between the two between spring practice and fall camp before the season-opener on Aug. 31 vs. Western Kentucky.

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One question or concern

Alabama lost majority of its production at safety from the 2023 season, so of course the question remains as to how Alabama’s secondary will perform this season.

Aside from Moore and Smith, Alabama’s safety room lacks real-game SEC experience. However, the Crimson Tide bring in key transfers, especially in Sabb coming in from Michigan with prior College Football Playoff experience.

Alabama also brings in talent from its 2024 recruiting cycle in Morgan and Kirkpatrick Jr. and with its transfers in Howard and Mack, both sophomores, the Crimson Tide safety room should be in a good position for years to come.

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Breakout candidate

Last season, it seemed as if Smith was in line to serve a bigger role for the Crimson Tide. But injuries prevented him from doing so, not appearing in a game until November vs. Kentucky.

This season, Smith is in prime position to start the Husky position in Wommack’s new defense.

Smith, in his redshirt junior season at Alabama, has waited for an opportunity like this one, expect him to be ready.



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Alabama police seize dozens of illegal gambling machines

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Alabama police seize dozens of illegal gambling machines


Fort Payne police arrested an Albertville man this week after discovering dozens of illegal gambling machines at his businesses.

On Monday, officers conducted operations at three different businesses located at 601 Gault Avenue South, 1515 Gault Avenue North and 1506 A Gault Avenue North after receiving several tips that there were gambling machines located at the businesses, according to a news release.

Chief David Davis said that 38 illegal gambling machines were located.

After further investigation officers discovered the machines were doing cash payouts.

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Over $7200 was seized during the investigation, according to the release.

Gael Garcia, 20, was arrested and charged with Possession of Gambling Devices, Conspiracy to Promote Gambling, Promoting Gambling, and Possession of Gambling Records.

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Alabama basketball 2025-26 season preview, predictions: Collins Onyejiaka

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Alabama basketball 2025-26 season preview, predictions: Collins Onyejiaka


A late addition to the Alabama Crimson Tide’s 2025-26 roster, could talented freshman Collins Onyejiaka make an impact at some point this season?

Onyejiaka joined the Crimson Tide during the summer months from the high school ranks, reclassifying following a junior season at the prep level in which he certainly impressed.

As a result, Onyejiaka now enters his freshman season of college basketball with the Crimson Tide, but his exact role entering the year one could argue is a bit unknown on a deep Alabama men’s basketball team.

Here is everything you need to know about Alabama newcomer Collins Onyejiaka entering the 2025-26 season.

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Collins Onyejiaka player information

  • Position: Center
  • Jersey Number: No. 34
  • Height: 6’11
  • Weight: 265
  • Class: Freshman
  • Hometown: Abuja, Nigeria
  • High School: The Newman School

Collins Onyejiaka career stats

This will be the first season of college basketball for Onyejiaka. Onyejiaka has yet to compile any collegiate stats.

Collins Onyejiaka 2024-25 stats

Onyejiaka spent the 2024-25 season as a high school junior at The Newman School in Massachusetts. During the 2024-25 season, Onyejiaka averaged 9.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game across 39 games played.

Collins Onyejiaka recruiting ranking

According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Onyejiaka was considered as the No. 100 overall prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, as well as the No. 14 center nationally. Rated as a four-star recruit, Onyejiaka also ranked as the No. 2 player in the state of Massachusetts out of The Newman School, and committed to Alabama in June 2025.

Collins Onyejiaka 2025-26 season outlook

A new face to the Alabama program, it is likely an unknown as to how much action the freshman could see in 2025-26.

As to why, not only is Onyejiaka an incoming freshman this season, but the talented center also reclassified during the offseason, meaning that he is younger than other freshmen across the country. Onyejiaka also likely sits behind some experienced options on the depth chart at the center position entering this season, meaning that a starting role is potentially not in the works in 2025-26.

Overall, expect Onyejiaka to see some action though, and to potentially emerge into a larger role in which he is one of Alabama’s top interior defensive presences.

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Collins Onyejiaka 2025-25 season prediction

  • 2025-26 Prediction: 2.1 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 0.1 APG, 0.3 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 55 FG%, 70 FT%

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Alabama at South Carolina injury updates: Wednesday availability report revealed

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Alabama at South Carolina injury updates: Wednesday availability report revealed


Alabama and South Carolina are set to meet on Saturday in a game between programs moving in vastly different directions. Still, if there’s going to be a turnaround story for the Gamecocks, the injury report will loom large.

South Carolina has lost two straight and four of its last five, with the lone win in that span coming against Kentucky. Alabama, meanwhile, has won six straight after dropping its season opener, including four straight over ranked opponents.

So what will the injury situation look like? Well, the initial availability report released by the SEC on Wednesday night helps clue us in. Let’s take a look.

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South Carolina Gamecocks

Perhaps the biggest name to watch for Alabama recently was running back Jam Miller, who suffered a concussion prior to last week’s Tennessee game. After going through protocol, he was cleared just in time for the game and managed to log 12 carries, albeit for just 15 yards and one score.

With him healthy, the attention shifts elsewhere. The Tide had five players who were ruled out for the Tennessee game: linebacker Qua Russaw, linebacker Jah-Marien Latham, linebacker Cayden Jones, receiver Derek Meadows and defensive lineman Jeremiah Beaman.

Those players have been out for varying lengths of time. Meadows, for instance, suffered a concussion against Missouri two weeks ago.

On the other side, South Carolina has been without a handful of players, while several others have been listed as game-time decisions or available in recent weeks.

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The players that were out for last weekend’s contest against Oklahoma were receiver Brian Rowe, offensive lineman Nolan Hay, offensive lineman Cason Henry and defensive lineman Davonte Miles. It’ll be interesting to see if any can return against Alabama.

South Carolina and Alabama are set to meet at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on ABC.



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