Alabama transfer was made official on Wednesday, with the Tide obtaining the experienced cornerback it wanted all spring.
Jones will transfer from the ACC to the SEC after making a significant impact for the Demon Deacons in 2023. In Tuscaloosa, he will try to boost a cornerback corps that is filled with blue chip freshmen but woefully deficient in playing time.
USC transfer Domani Jackson appears to be the leader in the pack, while the other cornerback place is wide open. Jones will compete with true freshman Zabien Brown, among others, for the job.
Regardless of how the depth chart plays out, Alabama’s cornerback corps will be somewhat inexperienced this season, with no players having played in the SEC. With a few of difficult early-season games on the horizon, the team will need to mature quickly.
In theory, the Crimson Tide will be able to rely on a strong front seven to shield the secondary as they find their feet. If it can field a strong pass rush, it will help make life simpler on the back end and allow that bunch to gel better.
This spring, Alabama lost two defensive backs, young safety Peyton Woodyard and Tony Mitchell, via the transfer portal. It replied by signing Jones at cornerback and former Charlotte safety Kameron Howard.
This tradeoff will be intriguing to see over time, as Woodyard and Mitchell are the more gifted combo on paper, at least according to recruitment rankings. Jones and Howard, on the other hand, were both collegiate starters and have much more combined experience. For this reason alone, the swap advantages Alabama in the next 2024 season.
The Tide wanted to acquire some older players in the secondary, particularly at cornerback, and DaShawn Jones fills that role.
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