Kendall Sheffield has missed Alabama's last three football practices, and Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban isn't sure when or if the redshirt freshman cornerback will return.
Sheffield was a consensus top-five cornerback prospect in the 2015 signing class and was rated by Scout.com as a top-10 prospect overall. The Crimson Tide already are having to move on in the secondary without Maurice Smith, who recently transferred to Georgia.
"I don't really know what Kendall Sheffield's status is," Saban said in a news conference after Tuesday's two-hour practice. "We would be happy to have him back, because he's a fine young man who already has made a lot of improvement here. We would enjoy having him be a part of the team if that's what he chooses."
Sheffield, a 6-foot, 188-pounder from Missouri City, Texas, signed with Alabama over Florida State, Ohio State, Southern California and Texas A&M. The Crimson Tide open their season Sept. 3 against USC.
Alabama may have the top cornerback combination in the country with redshirt sophomore Marlon Humphrey and sophomore Minkah Fitzpatrick, but depth certainly would be an issue should Sheffield transfer as well.
"Anthony Averett has played really well and is a good corner and would be a solid guy to play if we needed him in nickel," Saban said. "After that, we've got the young guys we need to develop, and Kendall Sheffield was certainly in that mix. It is what it is, and we'll try to do our best with the players that we have."
Tony Brown would be an option, but the junior is facing a multiple-game NCAA suspension. Alabama signed three defensive backs earlier this year - Shyheim Carter, Nigel Knott and Aaron Robinson - and freshman receiver Trevon Diggs has worked some in the secondary this month as well.
Saban has not put an ultimatum on Sheffield returning, but classes start today in Tuscaloosa, which would leave him playing catch-up academically if he continues to stay away.
When asked how the quarterbacks fared after reviewing the tape from Saturday's inaugural scrimmage, Saban said, "Consistency is what's going to be the key to the drill for those guys. Each one of those quarterbacks is capable of being really good."
Saban announced the awarding of a scholarship to walk-on linebacker Jamey Mosley, a 6-5, 226-pound sophomore from Mobile.
"Jamey earned this on his own," Saban said. "He's worked really hard and gives great effort in practice."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.