TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WIAT) — Less than 50% of Alabama’s 2025 roster is back with the Tide this season. One group bucking that trend, however, is the defensive back room.

“The more time we’ve spent together, we’ve been able to communicate more,” cornerback Zabien Brown said.

“You don’t have to spend as much time, you know, I guess hollering the call,” safety Bray Hubbard said. “They can also focus on their job and not worry about if I’m going to do the job right or anything like that.”

On offense, Alabama lost two of its top three receivers, but not Ryan Coleman-Williams. He enters his junior season prepared to catch passes from his third different quarterback in three years.

“It’s a growth opportunity,” Coleman-Williams said. “If I had opportunity to play in a National Football League, sometimes that might be the case as well. So, really just trying to maximize the time that I can spend with my quarterback.”

Austin Mack and Keelon Russell will compete for the QB job next month. Zabien Brown shared his perspective on the battle Wednesday.

“Mack, he’s not going to make a wrong decision,” Brown said. “And Keelon’s lightning in a bottle, so really can’t go wrong. And I love being around those guys.”

Alabama starts its season in Tuscaloosa on Sept. 5 against East Carolina. Its SEC opener is the following week at Kentucky.

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