Neither one of them could have expected the move.
After all, both Geno Matias-Smith and Eddie Jackson were standout cornerbacks as true freshmen at Alabama. Matias-Smith started during the 2012 SEC championship game against Georgia, while Jackson started four games in 2013, including the Sugar Bowl against Oklahoma.
To see the field their first season on campus seemed to be a statement at the time. When your position coach is the head coach and your head coach is Nick Saban, you don’t just waltz into town and pencil yourself into the starting lineup.