As a freshman in 2016, Alabama WR Trevon Diggs had a minimal impact on the offense, recording 11 catches for 88 yards and a touchdown.

However, when the Crimson Tide held their first practice of the spring on Tuesday, Diggs was working with the defensive backs.

Coach Nick Saban explained that the team is simply experimenting with Diggs in a different role and that this is the time of year to do that.

“That’s an experiment that we wanted to go through,” Saban said during his introductory spring press conference.” Look, it’s two-fold, A: we can see what he can do. He can learn a position, if we have issues later on from a depth standpoint, the guy would know enough to go over and be an emergency player and play both ways if he was playing offense later on. This is the time to sort of try and do that, that’s No. 1.”

Seeing how successful Adoree’ Jackson of USC has been the past couple of years in a corner/receiver/returner role, perhaps Saban is trying to create his own super-versatile star.

Diggs played defensive back in high school and played some on that side of the ball last year in Tuscaloosa, too. He returned 14 punts and seven kickoffs and also had five tackles and a forced fumble.

What Diggs’ role will be this fall remains to be seen, but the talented sophomore is sure to have an impact wherever he lines up.