How a transfer CB is making an impact for Alabama football in spring
When Kane Wommack and Alabama football got Cam Calhoun from the transfer portal, the Crimson Tide were seeking a cornerback with top-level experience. It got that from the former Utah DB, not to mention a fiery locker room presence.
Speaking to reporters Friday in Tuscaloosa, Wommack said Calhoun is fitting in through the first week of spring practice with UA.
“He’s got a little — he’s from Cincinnati, and those Cincinnati guys, if you’ve ever recruited that area, they’ve got a little something to them, you know what I mean?” Wommack said. “He plays with a good energy. He plays with a mindset of attacking the ball and brings some juice to our group. We’re a relatively quiet secondary, for the most part, so it’s kind of nice to have another guy out there that plays up in people’s face.”
Calhoun played in 11 games last season for the Utes, including a start at Oklahoma State. He finished the year with 21 tackles an interception and led Utah with nine pass breakups.
The redshirt sophomore began his career at Michigan in 2023, where he saw action in two games.
“Cam, he’s something else,” Alabama safety Bray Hubbard said Friday. “A great guy though. Great guy. Brings a lot of energy in the locker room and on the field, I will say. He’s all over the place. Not in a bad way. He’s just always smiling, always talking. But he’s a great player. First week, had a really good first week and he’s only gonna keep building from there.”
Alabama is young at DB this spring, with Malachi Moore off to the NFL, while Keon Sabb and Domani Jackson are both out with injuries. Their absence has opened the door for younger players like Dijon Lee Jr. to get more reps but has also made Calhoun more visible.
Wommack praised his mental makeup after one week of practice.
“Really like Cam,” Wommack said. “He has a maturity about him. You can tell this dude’s been a seasoned player at a place that’s established itself as one of the great defenses year in and year out at Utah. It’s not an easy task to get on the field at that program, and he was a starter, so it’s awesome to be able to gain that experience.”
Alabama will pause spring practice for a spring break but will continue through the April 12 A-Day game at Bryant-Denny Stadium.