Alabama Football Spring Practice Day 2

Alabama defensive back Cyrus Jones (5) works through conditioning drills in a no-contact jersey during Alabama's second spring football practice, Monday, Mar. 23, 2015, at the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.com

(VASHA HUNT)

Cyrus Jones first got the diagnosis last June.

The rising junior cornerback had a torn labrum in his hip, a serious injury that required surgery.

Jones would have likely missed all of last season had he undergone the procedure at that point, a surgery that typically demands several months of rehabilitation.

Jones instead decided to play on and put off surgery until after the season, managing to establish himself as the Tide's top cornerback despite playing through the limitations that come along with a torn labrum in the hip.

The 5-foot-10, 195-pound Jones started all 14 games, a key piece of an Alabama defense that finished ranked fourth nationally in scoring defense.

Jones posted 46 tackles, three interceptions, a team-high 13 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

"As soon as I was diagnosed with it, I knew, eventually, I would need surgery," Jones said. "But being as though I got it diagnosed in the summertime during workouts, I couldn't get surgery because that would have meant I would have had to sit out during the season. I just had to deal with it through the season."

Alabama limited Jones' running during the summer before utilizing different forms of treatment to manage pain and irritation the Baltimore native dealt with during the season.

"It was definitely a lot of pain and irritation," Jones said. "But it wasn't too strenuous. The treatment and stuff like that helped to maintain it well so it made it possible for me to go out there and play."

Jones underwent surgery Jan. 12, which he has spent the winter and spring rehabilitating from.

Jones and injured linebacker Denzel Devall spend the beginning part of each spring practice working out on stationary bikes off to the side of the practice field while being directed by the Tide's strength and conditioning staff.

The hip is 70 percent healthy, Jones estimated Tuesday.

"I probably have a couple more months until I'm fully 100 percent," Jones said. "I'm just taking my time with it, not trying to rush anything because I don't want to get back out there and have a setback right away, so that's something that's important."

Jones enters this season as one of just two returning starters in Alabama's secondary, a veteran presence and three-year starter for a group that is the Tide's biggest defensive question mark after struggling in coverage against teams such as West Virginia, Ole Miss and Auburn last season.

Auburn's Nick Marshall was 27 of 43 for 456 yards with three touchdowns and one interception during the Tigers' 55-44 loss to Alabama last November.

"I really would like to be out there with the guys, getting better," Jones said. "It's hard to sit on the side and kind of watch them going out and competing and just working to our ultimate goal, which is to be the best that we can come the first game. It's hard in that aspect. But I'm enjoying the rest time, too, just taking my time to get back from my injury."

Jones is in his third year as a cornerback after playing wide receiver as a freshman at Alabama in 2012.

CBS Sports ranks Jones as the 19th-best cornerback prospect in next year's NFL draft.

"Right when I made the transition my sophomore year, I was trying to feel my way around, like I was playing unconfident, still not sure what I was supposed to be doing as far as the defense goes," Jones said. "It definitely hindered me as far as being able to just go out there and play fast and with confidence.

"If you don't have confidence playing corner, you just can't do it. It's impossible. Now I know what I can do, and I know my abilities, and I know the defense. Now it's just up to me to just go out there and play and prove everyone wrong who has something bad to say about it."