After landing transfer cornerback Trey Amos earlier this week, Nick Saban and Alabama Football got a commitment from former UAB safety Jaylen Key on Friday.
The state of the Alabama secondary has been discussed at length this offseason, as the Crimson Tide withstood numerous departures from the unit via the NFL Draft as well as the NCAA transfer portal. Coach Saban has seemingly responded to these concerns.
First, he brought in a stellar freshman class in the secondary, led by safety Caleb Downs.
Now, he has supplemented that class with a pair of veteran transfers in Amos and Key, who committed to Alabama just two days apart.
Alabama Football: Where does Jaylen Key fit amongst the Tide safety room?
Jaylen Key will come in as a redshirt senior for Alabama, and immediately becomes one of the oldest members of the secondary. Relative to his age, he doesn’t really have extensive game experience, as he was only a full-time starter for one season at UAB.
However, he was very impressive when he finally cracked the lineup, enjoying a breakout 2022 season. Key recorded 60 tackles and three interceptions from his safety position, and was named All-Conference USA.
In Tuscaloosa, he will compete with fellow seniors Malachi Moore and Kristian Story, as well as freshman Caleb Downs to get snaps on the Alabama defense.
Competition at the safety positions will be stiff. Moore has proven he is an All-SEC caliber player when healthy, and most analysts anticipate that Downs will be too good to keep off the field.
It would be advantageous for Jaylen Key and other members of the safety room to be as versatile and multi-dimensional as possible. It remains to be seen if Key is capable of playing in the nickel or the dime in Coach Saban’s defense, or if his skillset will relegate him to the back end.
Regardless, the secondary for Alabama Football got a lot better this week. Even if Trey Amos and Jaylen Key only provide experienced depth, they will have both been necessary additions this spring.
If either or both transfers can be legitimate difference-makers in the secondary, then Coach Saban will have struck gold in the portal once again.