Alabama football landed its final puzzle piece for its 2025 defense on Sunday when cornerback Domani Jackson announced he would be returning to the Crimson Tide for another season.
Jackson joins LT Overton, Tim Keenan III, Justin Jefferson, and Deontae Lawson in key defensive players announcing their returns to Alabama for next season. All of them have shared a similar sentiment in being disappointed in how the season turned out and having unfinished business in 2025.
Domani Jackson will return to Alabama in 2025. pic.twitter.com/XgXq9J7wjP
— Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) January 5, 2025
Jackson spent two seasons at USC before transferring to Alabama in 2024. Jackson committed to the Crimson Tide before the Rose Bowl, intending to play for Nick Saban. Jackson stuck with his commitment to Alabama when Saban announced his retirement and Kalen DeBoer was ultimately hired as the team's head coach.
Jackson was Alabama's No. 1 corner this season and a steadying veteran presence in a youthful secondary. He totaled 47 tackles and intercepted two passes, none bigger than his game-sealing interception to preserve a two-point win over South Carolina.
With Jackson's return, Alabama will return its top two cornerbacks with Jackson and rising sophomore Zabien Brown. They also added Utah transfer Cameron Calhoun in the portal, who will likely slide in as Alabama's No. 3 corner with Jaylen Mbakwe making the positional switch to wide receiver.
With the potential for more additions in the spring portal window, here's what Alabama's two-deep on defense might look like next season:
Bandit: LT Overton, Kelby Collins
NT: Tim Keenan III, Jeremiah Beaman/Steve Mboumoua
DT: James Smith, Edric Hill
Wolf: Qua Russaw, Yhonzae Pierre
Mike: Justin Jefferson or Nikhai Hill-Green
Sting: Deontae Lawson, Justin Okoronkwo
LCB: Domani Jackson, Cameron Calhoun
SS: Bray Hubbard, Dre Kirkpatrick Jr.
FS: Keon Sabb, Zay Mincey
RCB: Zabien Brown, Dijon Lee
Husky: Dashawn Jones or Red Morgan
That group has the potential to be the best defense in the country in 2025, and will give a new quarterback the support he needs to settle in.