With Nick Saban at the helm, cornerback is a position that should always be a relative strength. Last season, however, the Tide struggled to find consistency on the outside opposite Kool Aid McKinstry. McKinstry is back for one more ride before undoubtedly heading off to the NFL, and he will be expected to compete for the Thorpe Award. The rest is a bit of a mystery, though there are options. How this group comes together will be a crucial X factor for the 2023 season.
Departed
Alabama lost a key starter in second round pick Brian Branch, who spent the bulk of his time covering the slot.