Alabama Freshman Cornerback Dijon Lee Named Shaun Alexander Award Semifinalist

On Wednesday, Alabama freshman cornerback Dijon Lee Jr. was named a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. Lee was one of 14 semifinalists for the award announced on Wednesday morning, including former Alabama quarterback signee Julian Sayin.

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The Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award is named after former Alabama running back Shaun Alexander, and recognizes the top freshman player (redshirt or true freshman) in college football annually.

Dijon Lee, a 6-foot-4, 202-pound freshman cornerback from Mission Viejo High School in Carson, California, has appeared in all eight games for the Crimson Tide so far this season. He signed with Alabama as a five-star prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle, enrolling early at the Capstone in December 2024.

Lee has seen an increased role on the Tide's roster since week one, including two consecutive starts in the Tide's two most recent games (a 37-20 victory over Tennessee and a 29-22 victory over South Carolina). On the season, he has totaled 19 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, and one interception (a game-winning interception against Missouri in Alabama's 27-24 victory in Columbia, Missouri). Lee has surrendered just eight receptions on 17 targets for just 90 yards. Lee has played 181 coverage snaps this season, equating to just a 58.5 passer rating.

Alabama has produced two Shaun Alexander Award winners in the program's history, with Will Anderson Jr. winning Alabama's first Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award in 2020, and former Alabama safety Caleb Downs won the award in 2023 before transferring to Ohio State after Nick Saban's retirement. Current Alabama center Parker Brailsford was a finalist for the award in 2023 as well, when he was the starter at Washington during the Huskies' 13-0 Pac-12 season.

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_.