re: Alabama CB and former 5 Star Recruit Kendall Sheffield to transfer

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Does this force Tony Brown to play basically now? I mean what are other options, the freshmen for nickel?

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Don't like losing Maurice Smith (who could have played corner or safety) and Kendall Sheffield. Both would have contributed, particularly Smith this year and Sheffield in the future.

However, Alabama still has good options at all DB positions.

Corner/Star:

Likely will be Fitzpatrick and Humphrey as the top two. Key reserves that will be used for third cornerback/star will include Anthony Averett (JR); Tony Brown (Jr); Shyheim Carter (Freshman); Jared Mayden (Freshman)

My guess is at the beginning of the year Humphrey, Fitzpatrick, and Averett will have a heavy load and be on the field most of the time as the top 3 corners/star. Brown I believe will be suspended but will work in after that. Reports from camp indicate Carter and Mayden were already pushing for playing time even if Sheffield was still there. They will probably be worked in sparingly over the first few games but will be contributors this year. Those are likely the 6 that will make up the 3 man corner/star rotation. Pretty comfortable with this.

Safety:

Eddie Jackson (Free Safety) and Ronnie Harrison (Strong Safety) look like the clear top two.

The loss of Maurice Smith (who could have been viable at safety if he couldn't crack the corner depth chart) and Shawn Burgess-Becker do matter. They both would have contributed. The key backups will be Hootie Jones (Jr); Deionte Thompson (RsFR); and maybe Tony Brown (some people see him fitting better at safety similar to the move Eddie Jackson made). Again pretty comfortable with those 4 or 5 to man the two safety positions.

Certainly don't have the ridiculous depth it looked like before the departures of Smith, Sheffield, and Burgess-Becker but thankfully the DB unit was incredibly loaded so it still looks to be in good shape. Certainly don't need to lose any more though.

ETA: Had Nigel Knott and Jared Mayden confused in my first post.

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Lost to two Treon Harris led offenses.

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It's hard to stop a juggernaut like that.

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That's 2 starting DBs and some depth gone.

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The true starters at DB are pretty clearly Fitzpatrick, Humphrey, Jackson, and Harrison and none of them transferred. Sheffield, Smith, and Burgess-Becker were key backups.

Not worried at all. Bama repeats in 16.

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[ETA: Had Nigel Knott and Jared Mayden confused in my first post.

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What's the word on Nigel Knott? Had a feeling when he committed he should have gone to State and sort of sounded like he may have head second thoughts about it signing day morning.

Dumb arse people on here are starting to make this board insufferable, tell them one thing and they totally ignore it because they want their narrative to be true so bad. The kid was competing for a spot but was never a starter and now since he left, all of a sudden he was a starter SMH. The kids on here I swear

Please tell us who Mo Smitj was beat out by

Keep in mind we all know he was going to start in the nickel

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Please tell us who Mo Smitj was beat out by 

Keep in mind we all know he was going to start in the nickel

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He was beat out by Fitzpatrick for the past 2 seasons in the nickel

What's the point? He graduated and wanted to go play for Kirby.

No he wasn't. Fitzpatrick has been at Nickle all of fall camp. Smith would have backed him up until tony brown returns.
Opposite corner of Humphries was between Avarett/Sheffield
Now Sheffield is gone, I assume it will be Avarett.
Smith would have defiantly seen playing time, but losing Sheffield hurts worse than smith