Where does Alabama turn in the secondary with DeVonta Smith in Transfer Portal?

Alabama football suffered another blow from the transfer portal on Saturday when Husky starter DeVonta Smith entered the NCAA transfer portal. Smith is the 13th player from the 2024 Crimson Tide to enter the portal. His entry marks the second straight day Alabama has had a starter/co-starter enter the portal.

Smith started 11 of Alabama’s 12 games at Husky, effectively the nickel corner spot in Kane Wommack’s defensive scheme. Smith entered the season listed as the co-starter with true freshman Red Morgan, but later in the season Smith was locked in as the starter with Morgan dealing with lingering injuries and some freshmen struggles.

Wake Forest transfer DaShawn Jones began to see more and more playing time as the season progressed and played well at the position.

Smith is originally from the Cincinnati area, and the immediate thought is that he will end up transferring to be closer to home in his final year of eligibility.

Smith played well and was one of the leaders who helped keep everything together during the coaching change. While losing a starter to the transfer portal is never ideal, Alabama developed a lot of depth in the secondary this season due to having to play so many guys.

With Bray Hubbard’s emergence following Keon Sabb’s injury, Alabama’s starting safety next season figures to be Hubbard and Sabb next to each other, with Malachi Moore exhausting his eligibility.

At corner, a lot will depend on whether Domani Jackson returns or turns pro. If he’s back, he and Zabien Brown figure to be the starters, and then the Husky spot will be a competition between Jones, Morgan and Jaylen Mbakwe.

If Jackson leaves, then Mbakwe and Jones will likely compete for the CB2 spot opposite Brown. Morgan and the loser of that would have the inside at Husky. You also can’t count out incoming 5-star freshman CB Dijon Lee, 4-star Chuck McDonald or 4-star safety Ivan Taylor, all of whom are talented enough to play right away. Wommack showed no fear playing young players in the secondary in 2024.

Smith would have been a luxury to have and his leadership is invaluable. But Alabama will have a talented defensive back group next season regardless.