Alabama safety stepping up this spring while starter is limited

Alabama currently has a starting safety that is limited this spring, and this has created opportunities for other players in that room to step up, including in the Crimson Tide’s latest scrimmage.

Bray Hubbard is limited this spring, leaving room for another name to fill in and place in the secondary with returning starter Keon Sabb.

On Monday, Sabb explained how he’s seen Ivan Taylor make strides during the spring and had lots of good things to say about the sophomore safety.

“Just continuing to get better each and every day,” Sabb said. “A guy that keys into any little details, so when you see that from young guys, it’s really important.”

Taylor played in every game last season, primarily on special teams, but he saw his role in the secondary slightly expand late in the season. Now, he has an opportunity to expand that role even further with Hubbard limited.

In 2025, Taylor tallied up 14 tackles and a pass breakup in 15 games of action.

Taylor is a guy that has earned the trust of Sabb, and the veteran safety explained what young guys like Taylor can do to keep building that trust with teammates.

“Proving to your teammates that you can do what you’re supposed to do each and every snap,” Sabb said. “Not being amazing on one play and decent on another. You know, being consistent throughout the entire game.”

For Sabb, Taylor fits that description as a guy that has been consistent throughout the spring, and there’s more opportunities to showcase that consistent in this spring coming up.

As a whole, Sabb believes Alabama can continue to get better defensively after the first scrimmage, but there is growth happening this spring in Tuscaloosa.