With both starters and the No. 3 guy from a season ago gone, Alabama football has plenty of spots to fill at cornerback.

Domani Jackson, the Southern Cal transfer, is expected to start at one cornerback spot. He’s the most experienced and should be a reliable starter on one side.

The bigger camp question has been, who’s going to fill the other starting role?

Here’s a look at some of the top contenders, for what the coaching staff is looking from its cornerbacks and who might win the job.

“You’re seeing guys put a foot in the ground and make plays,” said Maurice Linguist, Alabama co-defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach. “You’re seeing guys stay more sticky in coverage. I think the film is really telling that story right now. I think we’re in a solid place right now. We’ve got a lot of work in front of us. But I like what I’m seeing right now from the group.”

Cornerback criteria: What Alabama football wants

Linguist provided a numbered list, so he made it pretty clear what he seeks from his position group when he described what the best cornerbacks in the game do.

1. Play great man-to-man defense
2. Win in the deep part of the field
3. Make open field tackles
4. Set the physical edges and “be the width of the defense”
5. Have great zone instincts

“And I think above all, do you have that confidence?” Linguist said.

Candidate: DaShawn Jones, Wake Forest transfer

Measurables: 6-0, 185 pounds

247Sports Composite: 3-star (2021 class)

Linguist knew Alabama needed to go and land an experienced cornerback. So that’s what it did in the spring transfer portal window in securing Jones.

“We got contact at the base when we were going up to bat to try to find a transfer guy who can come in and make plays for us,” Linguist said. “We’re pleased with what he’s doing for us.”

A season ago, Jones played in 10 games and started nine making 37 tackles and three interceptions. He also played in 12 games in 2022.

The biggest advantage is his experience. None of his competitors have any at the collegiate level.

“I love DaShawn,” Linguist said. “I think what he has provided right now is an older guy that has been in big games, that has a very steady way about himself. Steady is the best way to describe him.”

Candidate: Zabien Brown, freshman

Measurables: 6-0, 196 pounds

247Sports Composite: 5-star (2024 class)

Brown sustained a hand injury early in camp, but that hasn’t slowed him down. He’s been busy ignoring the hand injury and impressing folks instead.

“It hasn’t affected him at all,” Linguist said. “He’s got a lot of mental toughness. The ability to not let things affect your game and not get distracted by things. He’s a real focused guy. His play is really in a good place right now. We’re going to need him to be good. I think he’s taken care of what we need to take care of right now.”

Brown was the No. 30 overall player and No. 4 cornerback in the 247Sports Composite rankings this past year. A Mater Dei product, Brown has the talent to have a special career at Alabama.

“He just doesn’t feel like a freshman out there,” DeBoer said. “He does not. We felt that way this spring and he just followed that up with another big jump like you really would expect. He’s just out there, I don’t think of him as young or anything like that. I think of him as a guy who just fit right into the defense and I’m proud of the way he just approaches it. He doesn’t take anything for granted.”

Candidate: Jaylen Mbakwe, freshman

Measurables: 5-11, 192 pounds

247Sports Composite: 5-star (2024 class)

The No. 12 overall prospect in the 2024 recruiting class brings plenty of potential to the position.

He primarily played quarterback a season ago for Clay-Chalkville, but he seems to be transitioning well to cornerback.

“He made strides in the spring time, but I thought he took his game to another level through the summer and what he has shown in fall camp where we feel he is going to have a role for us in this season,” defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said. “He had a great day out there today. He’s just really starting to hone in and play with anticipation as opposed to ‘I’ve just got to get my footwork right,’ and all that. He’s starting to recognize and anticipate. It’s good to see.”

That role might not be a starting role. He’s perhaps more of a long-shot to be the Day 1 starter because of the position switch. Nonetheless, the upside is there and he could help the defense this season, even if he doesn’t start.

Who will be Alabama football’s other starting cornerback?

Alabama still has a handful of practices and one more scrimmage to make this determination for who starts opposite Jackson. Here’s what we know so far:

• Practice doesn’t indicate much about pecking order. At least not the viewing periods open to reporters.
• During the open Fan Day practice, Brown ran first with the first group during 11-on-11 drills. But the second time out for the first group, Jones also saw some time. Jones sounded to have gotten more reps with the top group in Saturday’s closed scrimmage.
• Does Alabama want to go with a more experienced option? Or does the Crimson Tide want to give the starting spot to someone with more upside? That’s essentially what it comes down to between Jones and Brown/Mbakwe.
• Brown started the A-Day game opposite Jackson when Jones wasn’t on the roster yet, so if Alabama wants to go with a younger, higher potential option, Brown might be the pick.
• But if Alabama wants to start out with someone who has played a good bit of college football, Jones could make more sense for the Western Kentucky game and see how it goes from there.

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.