Alabama football still seeking starting cornerback as Eli Ricks deals with injury
Alabama football continues to have injuries pop up at cornerback as it tries to determine who will start at the position.
Eli Ricks is the latest Crimson Tide cornerback to miss time. The LSU transfer has got "a little bit of a back problem," Alabama coach Nick Saban said Wednesday. Ricks hasn't been able to practice since the scrimmage on Saturday.
"I don't think it's anything that's going to keep him out for a long time," Saban said.
Khyree Jackson, another cornerback in contention for one of the starting spots, missed the scrimmage as he was dealing with a groin injury.
"I was not disappointed in the way (Ricks) played in the scrimmage," Saban said. "I think there's a lot of competition at that position. I can't tell you who would be the starting corners at this point."
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The top three coming into camp were viewed to be Ricks, Jackson and Kool-Aid McKinstry. Jackson and McKinstry had a chance to play late in the 2021 season because of injuries to starters Jalyn Armour-Davis and Josh Jobe, both of whom have since gone to the NFL. Ricks joined this offseason from LSU via the transfer portal.
Ricks brings pedigree, having been named to the AP's All-SEC second team and the coaches' All-SEC freshman team in 2020. But he has had to learn a new system since transferring to the Crimson Tide, leaving questions how soon he could be a starter for Alabama.
On Saturday, Saban said Ricks is "still trying to learn the defense so he can go out and play with confidence."
In updating the cornerback battle Saturday, Saban also mentioned names such as Terrion Arnold and Antonio Kite to go along with the other three.
"Terrion Arnold has done a really good job so far in camp," Saban said.
Kite is a freshman Alabama decided to move to corner because the coaching staff sees it as a natural position for him. "He's done a pretty good job there," Saban said.
Arnold is a sophomore who did not see playing time for Alabama in 2021.
"I'm sure that if you asked them, they'd all say there's things they need to improve on," Saban said Saturday. "When I watch the film, I'm sure I'm going to be talking to 'em about what they need to improve on as well, but I think the big thing is to keep people cut off, don't give up big plays — that's got to be a critical piece for what we have to do at the corner position."
That, and the group must stay healthy.
Nick Kelly covers Alabama football and men's basketball for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at nkelly@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter: @_NickKelly
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Eli Rick has back injury, Alabama football coach Nick Saban said
