DeBoer Has No Problem Playing Freshman Cornerback Dijon Lee

In 2024, Alabama started a true freshman at cornerback in Zabien Brown. Brown took his lumps, but was a strong presence at cornerback for a thin Crimson Tide secondary. He totaled 18 tackles, three interceptions, two pass breakups, two tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, and one scoop and score.

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Now, the Crimson Tide could be ready to start another former five-star prospect at cornerback with five-star Mission Viejo cornerback Dijon Lee.

Lee has been earning first-team reps in spring, summer, and fall camp as senior cornerback Domani Jackson continues to recover from an injury. Lee has impressed the Crimson Tide's coaching staff, and head coach Kalen DeBoer said the Tide would not be afraid to play Lee early in the season.

"You have no problem putting him out there on the football field," DeBoer said. "There is a maturity, and I use that with Ty [Simpson] and Parker [Brailsford] and our team, but there's a maturity that a freshman has. And I feel like Zabien Brown had that last year.

"There are other guys, too, but to specifically focus on Dijon, he's had that. Even when he doesn't know what he doesn't know, in spring ball, there was something about his presence and the way he is. It's not about being as tall or anything; it's just about the confidence to go out there and play. And that's just a part of it - you've got to have the skill set - and he's done a great job being consistent from the first day he got here, winter workouts, to where we're at today. You keep throwing more and more on his plate, and he rises to the occasion. You feel very comfortable putting him out there on the football field."

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.