Last season saw Alabama returning just one starter in the back end of the defense in Patrick Surtain. This season the only spot open is the void that Surtain left after being a top ten pick in the NFL draft this spring.
Let’s take a look at some of the guys who are expected to see playing time this fall in the Alabama defensive backfield.
Projected Starters:
Name/Pos.: Josh Jobe, CB
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 194 pounds
Josh Jobe is entering his second full season as a starter at corner for the Tide. Jobe is coming off a season where he finished tied for third in the country with 11 passes defended. Jobe has played in the shadows of Patrick Surtain for the past couple of seasons but now looks to lead the cornerbacks in Tuscaloosa.
Name/Pos.: Jayln Armour-Davis, CB
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 192 pounds
Armour-David is a talented corner with great length and athleticism. He had a really good spring and has carried that over to fall camp. But will he be able to hold off future stars Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold? This is one of the most intriguing battles in fall camp.
Name/Pos.: Malachi Moore, STAR
Height/Weight: 6-foot-0, 190 pounds
Last season Moore was one of the breakout players for the Tide. He finished his true-freshman campaign with 3 interceptions and added another 6 passes defended. With a year of experience under his belt, Moore could become one of the best defensive backs in the entire country this season.
Name/Pos.: Jordan Battle, SS
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 210 pounds
Battle saw some action as a true freshman in the 2019 season and flashed his potential then. Last year he showed the continued development leading the backend of the Alabama defense. Battle is a physical player with great instincts and ball skills. If Battle can become more of a playmaker you could see his name rise up the ranks heading into the 2022 NFL draft.
Name/Pos.: DeMarcco Hellams, FS
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 208 pounds
Hellams is a play to become one of the breakout players for the Tide this fall. Last season Hellams slowly starting taking some reps from Daniel Wright at FS, and you started to see some of the potential that Hellams has. Hellams may be one of the hardest hitters on the entire Alabama team. If he can improve his coverage skills, Hellams will be one of the top defensive players in the SEC.
Name/Pos.: Brian Branch, MONEY
Height/Weight: 6-foot-0, 190 pounds
Branch came to Tuscaloosa last season as one of the top-rated defenders in the 2020 class. Branch battled Moore for the starting spot at STAR where Moore got the upper hand, but around the middle of the season, you started to see more of Branch in the MONEY packages. Branch is one of the best cover guys on the team and according to some sources, he has seen some reps at corner this fall. Branch could become the breakout player for Alabama this season on defense.
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