Meeting a need: Former Wake Forest cornerback DaShawn Jones helps address a thin secondary for Alabama.
Alabama is on its way to further solidifying its secondary with the addition of former Wake Forest cornerback DaShawn Jones.
247Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported on Sunday evening that Jones, who visited Tuscaloosa over the weekend, is expected to join the Crimson Tide through the transfer portal.
The redshirt sophomore started nine games last season and led the team with three interceptions and two pass breakups. He tallied 37 tackles.
The Baltimore native was a three-star prospect coming out of Mount Saint Joseph High School. He checks in at 6 foot and 181 pounds.
Jones helps address one of two pressing needs Alabama had coming out of spring practice: offensive line and defensive back.
The Tide lost both of its starting corners — Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry — to the NFL draft. Starting nickel back and Freshman All-American Caleb Downs transferred in the wake of Nick Saban’s retirement, along with role players like Trey Amos and Earl Little.
In recent weeks, defensive backs Tony Mitchell and Peyton Woodyard entered the transfer portal.
“It’s just about bringing in some guys that can help our program, help our team be better, give us some depth and with special teams,” coach Kalen DeBoer said on The Next Round last month. “You’d love to have some guys that can continue to come up through the program and develop.”
The Tide added former Charlotte defensive back Kam Howard on Monday, joining a spring transfer class that also includes offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor and kicker Graham Nicholson.
Howard started two games and appeared in 12 contests as a freshman last season. He finished with 38 tackles, two interceptions and a pass break-up.
Even before the additions of Howard and Jones, Alabama’s depth chart in the secondary was littered with new faces.
Safety Keon Sabb, formerly of Michigan, and cornerback Domani Jackson, formerly of USC, are projected starters.
True freshmen Zabien Brown, Zay Mincey and Jaylen Mbakwe — all five-star prospects — enrolled early and are expected to push for playing time as well.
