The Alabama Crimson Tide enter the 2012 season with similar question marks in their secondary to the ones they had entering the 2010 season following a BCS National Championship. The Crimson Tide officially returns just one starter from last season’s defensive backfield, a unit that finished tops in the nation in pass defense, giving up just 111 yards per game.
While Alabama officially returns only one starter, junior cornerback Dee Milliner has plenty of starting experience. Milliner has started 17 games over his two seasons at the Capstone, including six in 2011. Milliner took a backseat to DeQuan Menzie at times last season, but when the Crimson Tide moved to the Nickel defense, Milliner was on the outside and Menzie moved to the star position.
Milliner led the team with three interceptions, including a pick-six against Auburn in the Iron Bowl. Publications around the nation may not consider Milliner a returning starter, but he is anything but a newcomer in the secondary.
Starting opposite Milliner this season looks to be junior college transfer Deion Belue. Belue initially signed with Alabama out of high school in 2010, but had to spend two seasons at Northeast Mississippi Community College.
Nick Saban and company held a scholarship for Belue, and obviously expected him to make an immediate impact in 2012. Belue has looked strong in coverage, but he is obviously still raw and this will be his first season playing against elite competition in big time college football.
Belue has the inside track at starting, but he is being pushed hard by junior John Fulton. Fulton was a highly touted recruit out of South Carolina and signed with the Crimson Tide in 2010 over the hometown Gamecocks. Fulton has spent the last two seasons mainly as a special teams contributor, and his development as a cornerback was slower than some may have expected.
Fulton took a giant leap in spring practice this year, and drew a lot of praise from Nick Saban for his hard work. Milliner, Belue, and Fulton are entrenched as the top three corners, but there are some question marks after them.
JUCO transfer Travell Dixon was expected to make an immediate impact in Tuscaloosa, but he left the program earlier this summer for personal reasons. With Dixon gone, the door opened for three freshmen to see early playing time.
Redshirt freshmen Jabriel Washington and Bradley Sylve along with true freshman Geno Smith are battling for the No. 4 corner spot.
Washington redshirted last season after being a highly sought after corner prospect out of Tennessee. The former four-star recruit held offers from over 30 programs. Sylve came to Tuscaloosa as a wide receiver and return specialist, and he redshirted last season while making the switch to defensive back. Sylve would seem to have the inside track for the No. 4 spot.
True freshman Geno Smith was one of the most highly regarded cornerback prospects in the country last season with ESPN ranking him as the No. 2 at the position. Smith has all the talent in the world, but his playing time in 2012 is dependent on how quickly he can pick up Alabama’s complex defensive system. Smith also needs time in the strength and conditioning program. He may not see a lot of time on the field this season, but there is no doubt that he has a bright future with the team.
Moving over to safety, Alabama must replace an All American in Mark Barron, who started 38 games in four years with the Crimson Tide. Losing Barron is tough, but the Crimson Tide does return starting free safety Robert Lester. Lester has 26 career starts and 10 career interceptions, including eight as a sophomore in 2010. The senior will be the unquestioned leader of Alabama’s defensive backfield this year.
At strong safety, Alabama has two excellent options to take over in place of Barron. In all likelihood, sophomore Vinnie Sunseri will get the nod as the starter. Sunseri made a name for himself last season as a terror on special teams with big hits and crushing blocks.
Sunseri saw time at safety last season in mop-up duty along with some meaningful playing time against Auburn in place of an injured Mark Barron. Sunseri seems to have a knack for making plays on defense whether it be a forced fumble, fumble recovery, or interception. He is a playmaker in the secondary.
Also competing for the starting job has been sophomore Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix. Haha made an impact as a true freshman last season on special teams. Clinton-Dix was a five-star recruit in 2011, and chose the Crimson Tide over offers from virtually every major program.
Haha seems to be a better true safety than Sunseri, and both guys will likely see plenty of playing time this season. They will split time, but don’t be surprised if they are both on the field at the same time some this season.
True freshman Landon Collins may be too good to keep on the sidelines this year. Collins was the cream of the crop of Alabama’s 2012 recruiting class. The five-star safety from Louisiana surprised many by choosing the Tide over the home state LSU Tigers. Collins was considered the No. 1 safety in the country by most recruiting services, and could have gone anywhere he wanted.
It’s not clear what role Collins will play in 2012, but he will certainly make an immediate impact.
The pundits can continue to compare the Tide’s secondary to the 2010 unit, but there is no denying that Alabama has a wealth of talent in their defensive backfield even after losing three starters.
Before Nick Saban, losing three starters in the secondary would make for a tough year for the Crimson Tide. But now, the cupboards are stocked full of former four and five star recruits waiting for their turn.
Some of those former blue chippers will have their chance this season, and they should live up to the hype and help the Crimson Tide chase their 15th National Championship.
Position Breakdowns Index
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Wide Receivers
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