TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Senior cornerback Trevon Diggs was asked to name the hardest hitter in Alabama’s secondary this season. After a quick moment to think about his answer, Diggs responded.

“Jobe.”

At SEC Media Days in July, junior linebacker Dylan Moses described Josh Jobe as a “very aggressive corner.” So, the 6-foot-1, 189-pound defensive back has developed a bit of a reputation.

But that approach hasn’t had to be reined in, per Diggs, and Jobe has “started to mature more.”

“It’s just like he has an aggressive edge about him,” Diggs said Monday. “He’s real aggressive and real locked in and real focused. I feel like it pays off real well. He goes out there, he hits everybody hard, he jams real well, he’s really aggressive. So, I feel like that’s his edge.”

Jobe is about to begin his sophomore year after appearing in 14 games as a reserve last season as a true freshman. And he is set to assume a larger role for the Crimson Tide this fall.

Through 15 days of preseason practice, Jobe has consistently lined up as the right corner, opposite Diggs, with the first-team defense. His fellow sophomore, Patrick Surtain II, has been working in the slot as the Star, and Surtain hasn’t had to provide much advice for his teammate.

“He played in big stages like that before,” Surtain said Monday. “He’s a great player, he’s a competitor, so I expect him to play well. ... He knew what he had to do when he stepped in.”

Junior safety Xavier McKinney added: “I kind of think those guys, like Pat and Jobe, they got a lot of playing time last year. I feel like they’re just as experienced as we are. Honestly, it’s just the way they play, the way they know their calls, it seems like they’ve been here just as long as I have.”

Alabama corner Josh Jobe (28) and linebacker Dylan Moses (32) combine to tackle Najee Harris.

Alabama called on Jobe to play significant minutes in the national title game against Clemson following an injury to Saivion Smith. He proceeded to break up one pass and record two tackles.

And now, it will call on the hard-hitting cornerback from the very beginning as a starter.

“I thought Josh made some big, big strides last year,” defensive coordinator Pete Golding said. “I thought he came into that Clemson game at the end of the year and played pretty well versus some of the best players in the country. I think, obviously, being a defensive back in this system, obviously, there’s a lot of different coverage concepts that are based on the formations and motions and things like that. I felt like he started getting a lot more comfortable once we started getting into the bowl practices, the understanding of the coverage concepts and the integrity of coverages.

“Then, once we got into the spring, obviously, his knowledge improved, so I thought his confidence improved. Because from a skill set standpoint, he’s long, he can run, he’s got ball skills, he’s competitive and I think he’s everything you’re looking for and that Coach (Saban) is looking for in a corner. So, obviously, I think he played well during spring. I think that transitioned to summer. I think he’s had one of the best summers of any of our guys.

“And then, obviously, now into fall camp, I think he’s going to progress on that. But absolutely, I think his confidence has improved because his understanding of what we’re asking him to do has improved. Obviously, anybody on the back end is eliminating explosive plays, and normally that’s through a mental error, a busted coverage with a lack of communication or an eye discipline standpoint. I think all those he’s starting to become more veteran at and learning from mistakes, obviously, that he’s made and that other guys have made.

“I think we’re happy with where he’s at now, and now he’s got to continue to develop and improve.”

Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).

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