Alabama football finally profited from a national championship-winning coach departing his program and a talented player entering the transfer portal.
On Monday night, UA’s name, image, and likeness entity, Yea Alabama, announced that Michigan transfer Keon Sabb will join Kalen DeBoer’s secondary this fall.
Sabb entered the portal on February 16, following Jim Harbaugh’s departure for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers. Sherrone Moore was promoted to head coach at Michigan immediately after Harbaugh’s departure. Sabb is a New Jersey native who went on to become a four-star recruit at IMG Academy in Florida.
Sabb appeared in 18 games over two seasons, recording 28 tackles, including one against Alabama in the Rose Bowl. Sabb has had two interceptions in his career, the first of which he returned for a touchdown against Minnesota. He has three years of eligibility left. Sabb began the national championship game against Washington, when he broke up two passes and tackled six Huskies.
Sabb’s anticipated arrival provides UA’s new defensive staff with a veteran player who will most likely play in the starting lineup. Sabb can play safety under Kane Wommack’s 4-2-5 scheme, which is led by defensive back coaches Maurice Linguist and Colin Hitschler.
UA lost eight defensive backs through the transfer portal, with the majority electing to leave Tuscaloosa after Nick Saban’s retirement on January 10. The 17-year-old Tide coach was well-known for his rapport with defensive backs, notably Shaun Alexander freshman of the year Caleb Downs. Alabama will also need to replace its two boundary cornerbacks, Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold, who are both heading to the NFL.
During its west coast trip, the Tide courted and signed Southern California cornerback Domani Jackson. This summer, UA has brought in seven players through the portal; three of them are from DeBoer’s prior roster.
Alabama’s secondary options this spring include Malachi Moore (52 tackles in 2023), Jackson (33 for the Trojans), DeVonta Smith (four), Bray Hubbard (one), Jahlil Hurley (redshirt), and first-year players Jaylen Mbakwe, Zavier Mincy, and Zabien Brown.
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