When you're discussing the best secondaries in college football for 2026, the conversation has to start with Alabama.
Along with returning starting safeties in Bray Hubbard and Keon Sabb, the Crimson Tide brought back a pair of talented, former 5-star corners with considerable starting experience in Zabien Brown and Dijon Lee.
Brown is entering his third season on campus and is already a two-year starter. He'll be a popular preseason All-SEC and All-American pick and could be the next Tide DB to hear his name called in the first round of the NFL Draft.
His running mate might be an even better prospect, though.
Lee, a rising sophomore, earned five starts as a freshman in place of senior Domani Jackson, and the 6-foot-4 corner acquitted himself quite well. Bigger things are expected for him in his second season, and Brown isn't afraid to light the fuse for early hype around his running mate.
"Dijon Lee, I think, really stepped forward," Brown said after Tuesday's practice. "I've seen his game really develop, and he's starting to produce a lot more."
Zabien Brown believes Dijon Lee has taken a big step forward this spring for Alabama
Lee taking a leap forward is a terrifying prospect for opposing teams on Alabama's schedule for 2026. The only thing you could hope against this secondary is that Lee's relative inexperience could be taken advantage of, because Brown will have his side of the field totally locked down.
It sounds like Lee is going to as well.
Brown also had some nice things to say about Alabama newcomers, not singling any out, but stating everyone is doing a good job. Along with returning corners like Chuck McDonald and a portal addition in Mercer's Carmelo O'Neal, the Tide signed two impressive high school CBs in 5-star Jorden Edmonds and 4-star Zyan Gibson, both of whom will look to compete for early playing time.
Alabama has a ton of depth in the defensive backfield, but its high-end talent might be unmatched, too. If Lee truly has taken a step forward, there won't be a better CB tandem in college football than the one you'll find in Tuscaloosa.