What we know, what we don't know and what we're about to find out as Alabama's cornerbacks head into the offseason.

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Who's leaving: 5 Cyrus Jones; 3 Bradley Sylve.

Who's back: 26 Marlon Humphrey (So.); 28 Anthony Averett (Jr.); 29 Minkah Fitzpatrick (So.); 21 Maurice Smith (Sr.); 11 Kendall Sheffield (rFr.).

Who's coming in: Shyheim Carter; Nigel Knott; Jared Mayden; Aaron Robinson.

What we know

For the first time since the 2012 season, Alabama is coming off a season in which it featured wire-to-wire starters at the cornerback spots.

In 2013, six different players made starts at corner for the Crimson Tide. In 2014, the number was cut to four. In 2015, the number went to two as Jones and Humphrey each started every game at corner.

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Jones started 34 of his last 35 games with the Crimson Tide, including 29 in a row to cap his career. In his three seasons on defense, Jones posted seven interceptions, 25 pass breakups and 32 passes defended. As a return man, he concluded his time with UA in spectacular fashion, returning four punts for touchdowns over the final six games of the 2015 campaign.

For the most part, Sylve was a career reserve and special teamer for the Crimson Tide, although he did make a start against West Virginia in the 2014 season opener. He'll be best-remembered for his strong play against Auburn that season, when he came off the bench to post three solo tackles and two pass breakups in place of starter Eddie Jackson.

After taking a redshirt in 2014, Humphrey took over at left corner last August and never looked back. The rising sophomore led all UA corners in tackles (45) and interceptions (three) in 2015 and was arguably the best corner on the field in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, recording five total tackles, including one for loss, and two pass breakups. He also fielded an onside kick that went a long way in securing Alabama's 45-40 win over Clemson.

After competing with Humphrey, Averett and Smith for the job at right corner in fall camp, Fitzpatrick emerged as UA's starting nickel back as a true freshman in 2015, seeing action in 14 games while making 10 starts. He finished his rookie season with team highs in both pass breakups (11) and passes defended (13) and tied for second in interceptions (two). He was also responsible for three of Alabama's nine non-offensive touchdowns on the season.

What we don't know

Assuming Fitzpatrick takes over as the starter opposite Humphrey in the base defense, Alabama will be in the market for either a nickel back or a third corner who can come on when/if Fitzpatrick slides inside to star in the nickel and dime packages.

Averett (corner), Smith (star) and Tony Brown (star) return as the three candidates with the most experience in those areas. Averett saw action in six games in 2015, while Smith and Brown hit the field in 15 and 13 games, respectively, last season.

Averett projects primarily as a corner. As for Smith and Brown, they worked exclusively in sub package spots in 2015. In a perfect world, Brown would prove trustworthy enough of taking over at star. After being sent home in advance of the Cotton Bowl, though, the rising junior's status for 2016 and beyond remains somewhat uncertain.

What we're about to find out

Is Sheffield ready to make a move similar to the one we saw from Humphrey last fall? Both were five-star recruits who spent their first seasons at the Capstone working with the scout defense while redshirting.

It will also be interesting to see how Sheffield (hurldes), Averett (jumps), Fitzpatrick (sprints) and Humphrey (sprints/hurdles) juggle spring drills with track and field. After participating a year ago, Brown isn't currently listed on UA's track and field roster.

As for Humphrey, the last time we saw the rising sophomore he was on crutches at UA's national championship celebration on Jan. 23. A few days later, Nick Saban told reporters in attendance for Senior Bowl practices that Humphrey had suffered a left toe injury in the win over Clemson and that Humphrey's recovery wasn't expected to involve surgery.

Adding to the storylines back here will be the arrival of Derrick Ansley, Alabama's fifth different secondary coach in as many years. After spending the last three seasons at Kentucky, the former UA grad assistant returns to Tuscaloosa with a good understanding of what to expect -- both as a coach and as a recruiter.