Is Trey Amos ready to become the ‘best DB in the country’ at Ole Miss?

When Nick Saban, the defensive backs guru and head coach of six-time national champion Alabama, retired in January, the Crimson Tide’s DB room took a hit. Cornerbacks Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold both joined the NFL, and freshman safety phenom Caleb Downs transferred to Ohio State.

Further down the roster, backup cornerback Trey Amos, who likely would have started for the Tide in 2024, moved to the SEC, landing at Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss. According to Rebels players speaking at SEC Media Days on Monday, he’s a great fit in Oxford.

“I feel like he’s going to be the best DB in the country next year,” Rebels receiver Tre Harris said.

Harris knows Amos’ game inside out. Every day on the practice field, the two men shake hands and face off.

Their battles impressed their teammates in other position groups.

“It gets you pumped up,” defensive end Jared Ivey said. “They both make big plays … It’s really cool to see elite players perform in practice every day.”

Amos and Harris are both Louisiana natives. Before joining the Crimson Tide ahead of the 2023 season, Amos spent three years playing at Louisiana-Lafayette.

“It’s really like sharpening iron with iron,” Harris said of the practice games.

Harris played high school football in Lafayette before starting his college career at Louisiana Tech. He caught 54 passes for 985 yards last season for the Rebels.

Amos played in nearby New Iberia before beginning his college career.

“It’s great to see a guy from my hometown have this much success,” Harris said. “And I’m really excited to see him play this year.”

Amos won’t face his former team, as the Crimson Tide and Rebels won’t play in 2024 or 2025 due to the SEC’s new schedule model, as the league adds Texas and Oklahoma. Alabama opens the season Aug. 31 against Western Kentucky in Tuscaloosa, while Ole Miss will face Furman in Oxford the same day.