Alabama commit Demarcco Hellams plans to work with receivers and defensive backs this week at The Opening, mirroring the varied roles he plays for his high school team in Maryland.

Hellams knows things will change when he gets to Alabama.

"I'll be playing safety," he said with finality.

Alabama commit Demarcco Hellams makes a catch in the corner of the end zone during practice at The Opening on June 30, 2018 in Frisco, Texas. (Josh Bean | jbean@al.com)

Hellums chose Alabama over Clemson, Ohio State and Notre Dame on an offer list that stretched to more than 20 Power 5 programs. He's currently rated as a four-star prospect, according to the 247sports Composite rankings.

"I picked Alabama because they have a tradition of producing great DBs -- that's what I'm going there for -- and great players," Hellams said. "They have a great culture down there, (with) accountability and guys holding themselves to a higher standard.

"Overall, it just stood out to me the school that we wanted me more and (it's) the school that I felt more comfortable with that's going to get me to the next level."

Alabama boasts having at least one defensive back drafted in nine of the last 10 NFL drafts, including Marlon Humphrey in the first round in 2017 and Minkah Fitzpatrick earlier this year. Other first-round picks include Dre Kirkpatrick, Dee Milliner and HaHa Clinton-Dix.

Hellums said the success of players from Washington, D.C. and New Jersey, including former All-American defensive end Jonathan Allen, from Ashburn, Va.; Fitzpatrick, from Jersey City, New Jersey; and offensive linemen Cyrus and Arie Kouandjio, from DeMatha Catholic in Hyattsville, Maryland, the same high school Hellams attends, helped him pick Alabama.

All four of those players made it to the NFL, with Allen and Fitzpatrick being first-round picks in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

"It's a drawing card to my decision," he said of players from his area going to the NFL after attending Alabama. "When guys from the Northern states go down to the South and go to Alabama and have a great career and go on the NFL, it just shows you that it's possible."

At The Opening in Frisco, Texas -- a four-day showcase for about 150 of the nation's top recruits -- Hellams will work with receivers and defensive backs. Most prospects work with only one position group, so Hellams is an outlier in a group of elite players.

What are his expectations for The Opening, which ends Tuesday?

"I'm just here to work and to compete against the top guys in the nation, top guys at my position," he said. "I'm here to build relationships. Years from now, I might be playing with some of these guys in college. I may be in the (NFL) draft with these guys. This is a great time to see how you match up against the best in the nation."

Photos from Saturday's practice at The Opening:

The Opening: Day 1 from Dallas 35 Gallery: The Opening: Day 1 from Dallas

See Hellams' highlights: