Everything has to come together. For Alabama to truly get back to its standard of excellence, the Crimson Tide must once again play complementary football. The pass must open up the run, and so on. As far as the defense is concerned, Kane Wommack's side of the football should have one of the better units in the Power Four. He and Maurice Linguist's secondary has the chance to be incredible.
Whether it be Zabien Brown, Dijon Lee, Keon Sabb, or Bray Hubbard, On3's Nick Kosko thinks the world of the Alabama defensive backfield. The Crimson Tide secondary kicked off his list of the 10 best units in college football for 2026. He may have mentioned Brown and Lee being the leaders of this unit, but what he had to say about Hubbard should have Alabama fans fired up about the defense.
News is starting to come out that Hubbard could be one of the first safeties selected in the NFL Draft.
"Keon Sabb and Bray Hubbard, especially the latter, who’s getting NFL Draft buzz, are key. If Kane Wommack gets creative with this group, this might end up being Alabama’s best overall group."
Alabama being proficient in pass defense is nothing new. It was a mainstay defensively throughout the Nick Saban era in Tuscaloosa, carrying over into the new regime under Kalen DeBoer. He has entrusted Linguist and Wommack to make a difference on that side of the ball. While the defensive backfield is not perfect, it may be the unit to help the Alabama defense truly take flight this season.
As the offense and defensive front-seven come together, Alabama may have to lean on its secondary.
Kalen DeBoer may have to lean on his Alabama secondary more than ever
When projecting what all Alabama could be this season, there is a lot of upside, as well as a ton of uncertainty. Stars like Hubbard and wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams can be top-100 picks. EJ Crowell comes in with a ton of promise as a five-star running back. So does defensive lineman Devan Thompkins via the transfer portal. However, it all goes back to the ground game and quarterback play.
DeBoer will be judged by how well either Keelon Russell and Austin Mack play under center, as well as if Alabama can do much of anything with its rushing attack. He may be every bit the offensive-minded head coach, but he has to realize what Wommack, Linguist, and the rest of the defensive staff know to be true. This secondary could be something special, a galvanizing presence for the entire team.
If Wommack's defense holds up its collective end of the bargain, Alabama should be back in the College Football Playoff. For that to happen, the defensive backfield must drive the bus. While any improvement in the trenches and in the linebacking corps would be welcomed, Alabama cannot afford lackluster play for any extended stretches from its secondary. There is no margin for error.
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Overall, DeBoer has to trust his staff to put his players into advantageous situations to succeed. He does a great job of that at quarterback, but other areas of the team constantly need refinement there. With fewer cooks in the kitchen on his staff, DeBoer must empower tenured assistants like Linguist and Wommack to make a defense on their side of the ball. They have the pieces, but must get it done.
If Alabama is to make it back to the playoffs, this vaunted secondary will have to be a big reason for it.
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