Zavier Mincey: Alabama’s Rising Star in the Secondary Ready for a Sophomore Surge in 2025

As the Alabama Crimson Tide prepare for the 2025 college football season under head coach Kalen DeBoer, one name generating real buzz among fans and analysts is second-year defensive back Zavier Mincey. After a quietly impactful freshman season, Mincey enters year two poised to break out in a bigger role within Alabama’s ever-competitive secondary.

A product of Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Florida, Mincey arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2024 with high expectations. He was a five-star recruit, ranked as the No. 27 overall player in the nation and the No. 3 corner-back in his class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. Alabama fans were thrilled when he committed in January of that year, especially given the Tide’s ongoing tradition of developing elite defensive backs.

While many expected Mincey to start his career at corner, Alabama’s coaching staff saw a different path — moving him to safety early in his freshman season. That transition proved to be a smart one. Mincey’s size — 6-foot-3, 205 pounds — along with his athleticism and instincts, made him a natural fit at the position. As the season progressed and injuries struck the defensive backfield, Mincey stepped in and played meaningful snaps, even earning a start in the season finale against Michigan.

By the end of the 2024 season, Mincey had appeared in all 13 games, recording 16 tackles and two pass deflections. While his stats didn’t jump off the page, the eye test told a different story. His confidence, range, and physicality were evident, and coaches have praised his maturity and work ethic behind the scenes.

Looking ahead to 2025, Mincey may not be guaranteed a starting role out of the gate — Alabama returns several experienced DBs — but he’s expected to be a regular part of the rotation. His versatility allows him to contribute at multiple spots in the secondary, and he’s likely to be a key figure on special teams as well.

His projected 2025 stat line — 25 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, and 2 pass deflections — may not scream All-American just yet, but it would mark clear growth and set him up for a potential starting role by season’s end.

Alabama has long been known as “DBU” for a reason — players like Minkah Fitzpatrick, Marlon Humphrey, and Patrick Surtain II all blossomed in similar fashion. If Mincey continues on his current trajectory, he may soon add his name to that elite list.

With his size, skillset, and growing confidence, Zavier Mincey is certainly a name to watch as Alabama kicks off a new era of Crimson Tide football.