With Domani Jackson missing all of spring practice with an injury and being limited at times during fall camp, it has opened the door for a lot of reps for freshman CB Dijon Lee, and the former 5-star is taking full advantage.
The path to playing time as a true freshman for Lee was never going to be easy. Alabama returned starting corners in Jackson and Zabien Brown, but Lee's talent is undeniable. Kane Wommack and DB coach Maurice Linguist had no issue rotating corners last season, a concept that was rare under Nick Saban. They'll have even more luxury to do so this season with Lee and experienced Utah transfer Cam Calhoun providing valuable depth behind Jackson and Brown.
Lee has made a big impression right away, and the true freshman has earned the immediate playing time he's going to see:
"To me, with two very experienced corners that we have on this roster, we feel like Dijon can go right in," Wommack said. "Credit to him and the way he's playing right now. I see him as a starter in our defense."
Wommack saying he sees Lee as a starter is eye-opening. In the Tide's secondary, there are a lot of iron-sharpening-iron moments. As good as Lee and Brown were a year ago, they won't be able to rest on their laurels. Lee and Calhoun are raring to go and will force the returning starters to look over their shoulders the entire season.
Dijon Lee's size and skill will be a welcome addition to Alabama's secondary
Perhaps the most intriguing part of Lee is the fact that he's listed at 6-foot-4 and 202 pounds. He has safety size with a cornerback's skillset. He's going to make life incredibly difficult for even the most physically gifted wide receivers in the SEC.
Reports out of spring practice and fall camp have all been positive about Lee. He's received rave reviews from coaches, teammates, and onlookers. Most have believed for a long while now that he was going to carve out a role on the Crimson Tide defense as a true freshman. Most years, he would be a shoe-in to start, but unlike most years, Alabama returns both starters at the position from a year ago.
It's good news for Wommack, though, as in this era of college football, having that kind of depth at any position is a rarity.