Keon Sabb injury update: Kalen DeBoer confirms status vs. Vanderbilt

Late in the game against Georgia, there was a notable absence from the Alabama lineup. Safety Keon Sabb did not get normal snaps down the stretch. Thankfully for the Crimson Tide, there is nothing to worry about moving forward. Head coach Kalen DeBoer confirmed Sabb is good to go for Saturday’s showdown vs. Vanderbilt.

“He’ll be playing Saturday,” DeBoer said on the SEC Coaches Teleconference. “Yeah, he’ll be playing on Saturday.”

Sabb missed a good chunk of the 2024 season due to an injury. His last appearance came in late October in Alabama’s rivalry game vs. Tennessee. Even so, there were questions about his future with the program as the NFL Draft became a real possibility.

Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack had to let out a huge sigh of relief when Sabb announced he would return to Tuscaloosa. His presence in the back-end of the secondary continues to be massive. Sabb’s continues to impress DeBoer and the entire coaching staff.

“His volume has continued to increase working through fall camp,” DeBoer said. “I think he’s getting better and better each week, more comfortable, just physically. I thought he’s played his best football here as of late.”

Through four games, Sabb has 15 tackles, 10 of which are solo. One tackle for a loss is the only other number to pop up in the stat sheet. There is nothing to discuss when it comes to Sabb dropping back into coverage quite yet.

As a whole, the safety room continues to impress for Alabama. Alongside Sabb is Bray Hubbard, a standout the past few weeks after taking plenty of heat for the Florida State loss. The position was thought to be a point of strength heading into the season and is now playing out as such.

“Bray’s just done a really good job the last couple weeks leading the charge,” DeBoer said. “He’s playing hard-nosed. He’s in the right places and making the plays that we need, whether it’s getting interceptions or forcing fumbles.”

Recent times does not bring too much excitement around an Alabama-Vanderbilt game. However, after last year’s events in Vanderbilt, it might wind up being the SEC’s most anticipated matchup of the weekend. Everyone wants to see how DeBoer’s bunch responds after the massive win vs. Georgia.

Being at full strength is critical for both teams. So, a big mid-week update from DeBoer to confirm Sabb is good to go.