The Alabama Crimson Tide are known for their defensive stars. That next star might be an incoming transfer.
New defensive coordinator Kane Wommack spoke with reporters following practice on August 1. During the media availability, he made sure to heap praise on transfer defensive back Keon Sabb.
"Keon is a very special talent," Wommack told reporters. "He had some tremendous production at Michigan. Won a national championship there. We’re very fortunate to have that production and experience because experience is finite."
Sabb was a former 4-star recruit out of IMG Academy and a top-100 player in the class of 2022. His offers included top programs all over the country, but he decided to play for Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines. He started a handful of games over two seasons, including the team's national championship game against the Washington Huskies.
Following the national title and Harbaugh's departure, Sabb decided to enter the transfer portal. He ultimately landed on joining Alabama despite Nick Saban's surprise retirement. The new coaching staff in Wommack and head coach Kalen DeBoer left enough of an impression for Sabb to join the Crimson Tide.
"I thought day one, week one, he did a really great job of going the extra mile to get the verbiage and the terminology down so that he could go execute and play at a high level," Wommack added of Sabb. "Now, you see him starting to lead on the back end.”
Sabb will likely be slotted in as a replacement for Caleb Downs, who was a star freshman for the Crimson Tide last season. Now, Downs is heading to the Ohio State Buckeyes to contend for a national title. Sabb will likely play alongside experienced veteran Malachi Moore to form an exciting duo in Alabama's defense backfield.
The Crimson Tide have managed to reload on talent despite so many departures. That gives players like Sabb an opportunity to have breakout seasons on the SEC stage.
