DaShawn Jones providing ‘steady’ presence in Alabama’s cornerback room
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama wanted to address the cornerback position during the spring transfer portal window. The Crimson Tide had five scholarship players at the position in March and April with no reinforcements on the way – at least not yet – but none of them had played any snaps at Alabama. Only Domani Jackson had any college experience.
Kalen DeBoer and his staff cast a net into the portal pool and found DaShawn Jones, who spent the last three years at Wake Forest. Jones committed to the Tide following a visit to Tuscaloosa and enrolled earlier this summer. Two weeks into preseason practice, Jones has been battling for the starting cornerback spot opposite Jackson and is starting to impress.
“We feel like we made contact,” said Alabama cornerbacks coach Maurice Linguist. “We got contact at the base when we were going up to bat trying to find a transfer guy that can come in and make plays for us. And we’re pleased with what he’s doing for us.”
Jones, a redshirt junior, started nine of the 10 games he played in last year and led the Demon Deacons in interceptions with three during their 2023 campaign. He is now the oldest player in Alabama’s cornerback room and one of two players with collegiate experience.
Jackson was on campus this spring after transferring to the Tide from USC. The former 5-star has two years of Power 5 football under his belt and is most likely to be in Alabama’s starting lineup in 18 days when the Tide opens the 2024 season against Western Kentucky. But Jones is pushing for the other corner spot and is in the mix midway through fall camp.
The Wake Forest transfer saw some first-team reps in Saturday’s closed scrimmage, and that was also the case on Sunday during Alabama’s open Fan Day practice. True freshman Zabien Brown – and maybe Jaylen Mbakwe – are his toughest competition, but Jones having actual game reps on his resume could help him in this cornerback competition.
“He’s taken some snaps at the college football level,” DeBoer said. “So we need him out there. I think there’s a confidence about him just because of that that, yeah, we need in our program always but also in that position room. All of those guys, the cool thing is, I think, they all respect each other and just pushing each other, learning every single day.”
Alabama DB DaShawn Jones (Courtesy of UA Athletics)
Echoed Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, “Experience is finite. If you can find it somewhere, it obviously is great to have on your roster.
“I think DaDa’s doing a really great job. He has really changed his body. You think about seniors and guys that are maybe a little further down in their career, they might not be able to push quite as far as the development of a freshman. But I thought he’s made tremendous strides in eight weeks in terms of changing the makeup of his body. I think he’s playing very fast right now.”
Alabama coaches detail growth from young cornerbacks
The Tide’s cornerback competition is still that after the first two weeks of preseason camp. The coaches have been complimentary of several candidates in the race, including the young guys who could end up seeing playing time as rookies this fall. But having someone like Jones on the roster, someone who has been there and done that, is positive for the group.
“What he’s provided right now is an older guy that has been in big games, that has a very steady way about himself,” Linguist said. “Steady’s the best way to describe him. … He’s got a steady personality, but when he steps on the grass, I think his play does shoot up.
“I love that we’ve been able to provide an older guy that’s been through some battles and been through some ‘football wars’ before on the football field. And sometimes even the younger guys seeing a guy just be able to take drills and take coaching and be steady with it, he’s kind of providing that veteran experience. And the guy’s making plays.”
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