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After Nick Saban shockingly retired in January, finding an adequate replacement for him while also keeping together the talent-rich Alabama roster was perceived to be a near impossible task. However, it seems that new Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer might just be able to pull this off. Yes, a few key stars like safety Caleb Downs and wide receiver Isaiah Bond still chose to depart once the GOAT left his perch in Tuscaloosa, but DeBoer has done a great job for the most part not only keeping the roster together, but adding new faces who should make an incredible impact both now and later.
Since DeBoer joined the Crimson Tide at head coach he's brought back Kadyn Proctor from Iowa, retained new five star transfer defensive lineman LT Overton, added star center Parker Brailsford, five star cornerback Domani Jackson, Michigan safety Keon Sabb, wide receiver Germie Bernard, and more! His latest addition via the Transfer Portal just puts the cherry on top of it all, stacking the Alabama defense for the 2024 season and beyond.
King Mack, S Penn State
According toe Matt Zenitz of 247Sports, former Top 100 overall recruit in the 2023 class and Penn State safety King Mack has committed to Alabama. Mack spent just one year with the Nittany Lions playing just under 100 total snaps with them before choosing to enter the Transfer Portal looking for a better fit this spring.
Former Penn State safety King Mack has committed to Alabama.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) May 10, 2024
The Florida native was a Class of 2023 top-90 overall recruit.https://t.co/HM69l7dyvc pic.twitter.com/6IEHSfFLbU
One might think that a player bouncing after one year is a red flag, but that's likely not the case with Mack. Penn State had one of the deepest, most experienced safety groups in the nation last year. It's tough to earn significant work when three out of the top four safeties on the team have three or more years of experience and the other is a likely Top 60 draft pick in 2025.
Despite all the depth at safety, Penn State still forced him onto the field for about half the snaps in three different games, trying to get him some much-needed experience when they could. And on those limited snaps he allowed just one reception for nine yards while dropping back into coverage nearly 50 times.
Mack is a versatile weapon at safety with legit track speed (10.6-second 100-meter times verified) who was just looking for a better opportunity to play for one of the best programs in the history of the game. But how will he fit now that he's at Alabama?
King Mack's fit with Alabama
Malachi Moore and new transfer Keon Sabb should function as the team's primary free safeties this season. Sabb thrived in that role when playing at Michigan. Moore played the "star" position in years prior, but will be switching to a more prototypical safety role in 2024. After those two it seems there's a real opportunity for Mack to slide in as Alabama's third safety. He could definitely see some big nickel package snaps right away this fall.
And even though he didn't play a ton in the slot or inside the box, Mack has more than adequate tackling ability and agility to win underneath as well. Mack should begin to show his star capabilities in 2024, and then likely become the face of the Alabama secondary in 2025.
Be looking for more Alabama Football coverage here at A to Z Sports all year long! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!
And if you want to watch some King Mack highlights to see how he could star for the Alabama Crimson Tide here soon you can check out the video below!
More must-reads:
- The greatest players in Alabama football history
- The continued targeting of Caitlin Clark is only hurting the WNBA
- The 'MLB stolen base leaders' quiz
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