Alabama’s top-rated freshman in its 2023 recruiting class continues to trend toward becoming an immediate starter in the Tide’s defense.

Five-star safety Caleb Downs was the No. 6 rated player nationally in his high school recruiting class by 247 Sports’ industry composite, and has looked the part this spring.

“He’s done great,” coach Nick Saban said Thursday. “He’s got lots of maturity for a young guy. He’s smart. He understands football. Really conscientious about making sure he knows what to do and going out on the field and doing it.

“He’s had a really good spring and really has added a lot to the secondary with the way he’s played. He’s a good player.”

Downs, from Mill Creek High School outside Atlanta, was the top-rated recruit in Georgia. He committed to Alabama last summer over heavyweights UGA, Ohio State, Notre Dame and North Carolina, where his older brother Josh played and is one of the top-rated receivers in this month’s NFL draft.

Alabama is replacing both of its starting safeties, Jordan Battle and DeMarcco Hellams, who were starters the past three seasons. Malachi Moore could move from slot cornerback to start at one safety position, while fourth-year former Alabama high school Mr. Football Kristian Story is also an option to start at safety.

At cornerback, Terrion Arnold has the inside track to re-gain his starting job opposite Kool-Aid McKinstry after losing it to Eli Ricks midseason. Saban said Thursday he has been impressed the with spring period for both players.

“Kool-Aid and Terrion have really good springs,” Saban said. “Both those guys have some experience, so I think that really helps.”

But Alabama has lost two cornerbacks to the NCAA transfer portal this week in Jahquez Robinson (fourth year) and Trequon Fegans (second year). That leaves a pair of second-year players in Earl Little and Antonio Kite at the position alongside two top-50 early-enrolled freshmen in Dezz Ricks and Jahlil Hurley.

“We got long ways to go,” Saban said of the cornerback position. “We’re really young after [McKinstry and Arnold]. We need to make a lot of progress. I think we’ve got guys that have ability to do it, but they have not developed the consistency or the confidence at the position that we need to be able to play the way we want them to play.

“I think they’re very capable, but it’s going to be a work in progress for us in this game, as well as the summer, as well as fall camp.”

Alabama plays its A-Day spring game Saturday at 2 p.m. CT in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.