The Houston Texans selected former Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Kamari Lassiter in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft.

He was questioned about playing for head coach DeMeco Ryans and how it contrasted with playing for Kirby Smart at Georgia during a recent media availability. The goal of the question was to elicit a rivalry-style response.

But Lassiter was so shocked to learn that his head coach was a former Alabama Crimson Tide player that he was unable to even respond to the question. Ryans played linebacker for Mike Shula at the time.

Dallas Turner, a former Alabama linebacker, was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 17th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, dropping out of the expected top 10.

Regarding his decline, anonymous SEC coaches have differing views. Some describe him as exceptional and express astonishment at his position, while others believe he was a wise choice.

Despite various opinions regarding his selection position, Turner took the place of the highly rated Will Anderson, Jr., and will now begin his NFL career with the Vikings.

Under Kalen DeBoer’s direction, Alabama Football has turned its secondary from a weakness to a strength, which is an incredible accomplishment.

The coaching staff has purposefully rebuilt the team despite a great deal of attrition, including the loss of safety Caleb Downs and the departure of ten defensive backs via transfers.

Promising players include Jaylen Mbakwe, Dre Kirkpatrick Jr., Red Morgan, Zavier Mincey, and Zabien Brown in the 2024 class. Transfer defensive backs have added depth and competition, which has made room for a formidable secondary.

The way Alabama’s secondary has changed indicates how flexible the coaching staff can be in terms of developing new players and realizing their potential.

Despite early failures, the depth and competition in the Crimson Tide’s defensive backfield position them to be a powerful force going forward.