Could Kane Wommack have an untraditional answer to fill Alabama football husky spot?
Both cornerback starting spots are seemingly filled with Zabien Brown and Domani Jackson. The same can be said about both safety spots in Bray Hubbard and Keon Sabb. Both cornerback and safety have talent overflowing from its depth chart in players like Zavier Mincey, Cam Calhoun and Dijon Lee.
But that husky nickel spot, that fifth defensive back position, still seems up in the air. And when talking about potential options for that position, Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack pointed to that defensive back depth as something in the Crimson Tide's favor.
"You got a couple of guys over there that are fighting and battling right now," Wommack said. "I think our depth in the secondary, which is a lot better than it was a year ago, allows us to try a number of different guys out there."
The husky defensive back candidates start with DaShawn Jones, who took the reins from transferred starter DeVonta Smith in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. is viewed as the next in line behind Jones for reps as a true nickel defensive back.
But the answer could also come from outside of the traditional "husky" room.
Calhoun, a Utah transfer with 13 snaps of nickel experience, lined up for husky drills Aug. 2 behind Jones and Kirkpatrick. Wommack said he introduced Calhoun into the husky room at the end of spring and said the redshirt sophomore is working back and forth between both the nickel and traditional cornerback rooms this fall.
"I like what I see from him so far," Wommack said.
Alabama could also turn to Red Morgan, who the Crimson Tide moved to full-time corner this fall. Morgan played 144 snaps at nickel last season, per Pro Football Focus, most of which came early.
"Consistent execution is critical," Wommack said. "That player can really eliminate part of the field if they do their job in terms of perimeter blocking and teams that throw perimeter screens out there. If you got a husky that can take the field space away, I think we have a number of guys that seem to be doing a really good job right now. Pleased with where those guys are going and really like the competition in the room."
Safety Keon Sabb is not one of the defensive backs who has repped at husky. But he recognizes the potential of the room as a whole.
"I feel like they are going to battle it out," Sabb said. "We'll see game one whoever is going to be that starter, but I feel like all three or four of those guys are going to be ready, all starting-caliber guys."
Alabama football opens the 2025 season at Florida State Aug. 30.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Kane Wommack has an untraditional answer for Alabama football husky
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