‘Alabama freshman DB Zabien Brown followed up a strong spring with an even stronger start to fall camp. “I have a lot of trust in him already.”
First, Brown wore a cast on his left hand during Sunday’s practice, the fourth of Alabama’s 2024 fall camp. It kept him from fully participating in a few drills, but all in all, head coach Kalen DeBoer isn’t worried.
“He just slowed up here, a couple of days, but he’ll be back fine, probably the middle of next week,” DeBoer said after practice on Sunday, “but he was still out there practicing, getting his reps in.”
Second, Brown, a 5-star recruit from California powerhouse Mater Dei, continues to elicit high praise from the staff through the first week of fall camp.
“He just doesn’t feel like a freshman out there,” DeBoer continued. “He does not. We felt that way this spring, and he just followed that up with another big jump, like you would expect.
“He’s just out there, and I don’t think of him as young or anything like that. He’s just a guy that fits right into the defense.”
Brown was considered the No. 22 overall prospect in the 2024 class, per 247Sports. He was also considered the No. 3 overall cornerback recruit, behind Ellis Robinson IV, who went to Georgia, and Jaylen Mbakwe, his Alabama teammate.
“He plays with advanced technique, shows quick feet, can change direction and has excellent ball awareness,” wrote Greg Biggins, a national recruiting analyst for 247Sports, in his evaluation of Brown. “He plays a physical game, is a willing tackler and always looks under control.
“With his natural talent and mature game as well as how diligently he prepares off the field, it won’t surprise at all if Brown sees plenty of time as a true freshman in the fall.”
The 6-foot, 180-pound Santa Ana native joined the program last January, stuck around following Nick Saban’s retirement, and immediately climbed the two-deep during spring practices. He ultimately started with the first-team defense on A-Day.
Fast forward to the first week of fall camp, and Brown continues to impress the coaching staff — and that’s even after Alabama added DaShawn Jones, a 10-game starter for Wake Forest last season, during the spring transfer window.
“I do think he has natural talent, but what I love about him is his attitude, his effort, and his process,” Mo Linguist, Alabama’s cornerbacks coach, said of Brown this week. “His eyes are in the right place, he knows how to win the pre-snap, he’s aligned correctly.
“He eliminates the clutter before the snap. He’s got really good movements and he’s in the right position to make plays.”
During the various viewing periods where media has watched practice, it’s been tough to determine positional hierarchy in the secondary through four practices. Brown, Mbakwe, and Zay Mincey are three freshmen all vying for playing time at corner, along with Jones and Domani Jackson, who transferred in from USC last January.
But the praise Brown has received from the coaching staff, he seems to be in line to earn one of the starting roles — perhaps even by Week 1 against Western Kentucky, which is just 27 days away.
“I have a lot of trust in him already,” DeBoer said. “I’m proud of the way he approaches it. He doesn’t take anything for granted. He works with tail off. He’s up there with coach Mo nonstop. He’s a fun guy to have around each and every day in the program.”
and others. Linebacker Danny Stutsman says this team is ready to surprise as a top league contender. We’ll see.
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