Alabama Crimson Tide Cornerbacks Battling For Playing Time

October 1, 2011; Gainesville FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back John Fulton (10) during the first half against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.  Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Alabama Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban’s teams are known for defense, but his true specialty is the defensive secondary. Saban played defensive back in college and has always spent a lot of time developing DBs as a coach.

At Alabama, Saban has churned out NFL defensive backs with regularity. Alabama has produced first-round draft picks in Dre Kirkpatrick, Dee Milliner, Mark Barron and Kareem Jackson, with Robert Lester, Rashad Johnson, Marquis Johnson, Javier Arenas and DeQuan Menzie making it into the league as well.

For the past several years Alabama has entered its season with at least one player in the secondary that was destined to be a top draft pick, and this year that can’t miss prospect seems to be junior safety Ha’Sean “HaHa” Clinton-Dix.

Besides Clinton-Dix, however, the secondary is filled with young and sometimes unproven players. Cornerback is truly the position that many have question marks pegged on the Alabama defense heading into 2013.

Deion Belue started all 14 games in 2012, and after a very rocky start seemed to settle in down the stretch with possibly his best performance coming in the BCS National Championship game. The senior is unquestionably the most seasoned cornerback in the secondary as fall camp kicks off.

The other corners are a different story. It seems that senior John Fulton and sophomores Geno Smith and Cyrus Jones are battling out to see who will take over the other corner spot as well as the star (nickel back) and money (dime back) spots.

Fulton came to Alabama as a top cornerback prospect out of high school and was described by some as one of the most college-ready cornerbacks in the country, but his first two seasons at Alabama were spent primarily on special teams.

Fulton’s playing time in the secondary jumped in 2012, even earning him the first start of his career. Things seemed to click for Fulton in the Texas A&M game. He was extremely effective as the game wore on, recording a career-high five tackles and four pass breakups. Fulton broke his foot late in the game however, forcing him to miss the remainder of the season as well as the spring.

This setback comes as a major bump in the road for a veteran player that looked to be coming into his own. Now Fulton claims himself to be 100 percent and says he’s working hard to make 2013 his year. During Alabama’s recent Fan Day, Fulton spoke on his injury and the competition at the corner spot:

“It’s very competitive. I mean its Alabama, we’re all competitive. I’m just trying to work harder than anybody. If anybody asks for extra work, I’m right there with them. Extra film work with the younger guys. I’m just trying to do everything the right way. Getting bigger. Getting stronger. Getting faster.”

Those younger guys that are vying for playing time right along with Fulton are Geno Smith and Cyrus Jones. When Fulton went down last season it was Smith that took over for him and really was able to shine as a true freshman. He even earned two starts down the stretch, and continued his growth in the spring as well.

Cyrus Jones spent his freshman year playing wide receiver and returning kicks, but in the spring transitioned to the cornerback position, where he seemed to blossom. Jones is really pushing Smith and Fulton to get on the field in the fall, but with as many DBs as Kirby Smart and Saban play its likely all three will see plenty of action during the season.

John Fulton had to battle future NFL stars like Dee Milliner and Dre Kirkpatrick in the early stages of his career, and then he had to battle foot surgery. Now he’s battling with some young stars that are looking to become Nick Saban’s next great cornerback.

John Fulton seems to be taking something Nick Saban said to heart:

“What happened yesterday is history, what happens tomorrow is a mystery, what we do today makes a difference – the precious present moment.”

Fulton is trying to outwork everyone to take control of that moment. If the other corners share Fulton’s heart and hunger, this secondary may end up being one of the better ones Saban has fielded.