The roster churn continues
The Transfer Portal Window has been up and active for a week now, and something like 30% of the entirety of college football has entered it. And why not? Even if you intend to stay, it honestly isn’t a terrible idea to jump in anyway to see if you can secure a higher payment.
For Alabama, the Tide is seeing quite a bit of roster churn, though they’re still much better off than over half of the SEC. If you want a straight up list of who’s in and who’s out, check out the 247 Sports page. For this article, we’ll go by position group for the whole roster.
Lets take a look at a position-by-position
Quarterback
Out
Ty Simpson – NFL Draft
Returning
Austin Mack and Keelon Russell
In
None
Freshmen
Jett Thomalla and Tayden Kaawa
With four players, this group is likely set.
Running back
Out
Jam Miller – No eligibility and will give the NFL Draft a shot
Dre Washington – Out of eligibility
Richard Young – Entering the Portal
Returning
Daniel Hill, Kevin Riley, and A.K. Dear
In
Hollywood Smothers committed to Alabama a few days ago, but apparently chose not to go ahead and sign, and is now visiting Texas… Apparently after telling the local beat writers that he wasn’t going to visit anywhere else. There are some rumors that the RB Texas already signed in the portal, Raleek Brown, might back out of his deal with the Longhorns if they sign Smothers.
Freshmen
Ezavier Crowell and Trae’Shawn Brown
Wide Receiver
Out
Germie Bernard – NFL Draft/Eligibility
Isaiah Horton – Transfer Portal
Jalen Mbakwe – Transfer Portal (Georgia Tech)
Bubba Hampton – Transfer Portal
Cole Adams – Transfer Portal (Vanderbilt)
Jalen Hale – Transfer Portal
Returning
Ryan Williams and Lotzeir Brooks will return as starters. Derek Meadows and Rico Scott are the only backups left.
In
None yet.
You have to think the Tide has to land some players here.Cam Coleman from Auburn is the big name and was in Tuscaloosa on Friday. Tony Diaz from Texas-Rio Grade Valley is the only other player we’ve seen mentioned so far as having received an offer from the Tide.
Freshmen
Cederian Morgan
Tight End
Out
Josh Cuevas – NFL Draft/Eligibility
Brody Dalton – Eligibility
Returning
Kaleb Edwards, Danny Lewis Jr., Marshall Pritchett, Jack Sammarco, and Jay Lindsey
In
Josh Ford – big run blocker from Oklahoma State
Jaxon Shuttlesworth – Will be a preferred walk-on, from Jacksonville State. Has no snaps in college so far.
Freshmen
Mack Sutter
Offensive Line
Out
Kadyn Proctor – NFL Draft
Parker Brailsford – NFL Draft
Kam Dewberry – Eligibility/NFL
Geno VanDeMark – Eligibility/ NFL
Jaeden Roberts – Eligibility
Wilkin Formby – Transfer Portal (Texas A&M)
Roq Montgomery – Transfer Portal
Olaus Alinen – Transfer Portal (Kentucky)
Joseph Ionata – Transfer Portal (Georgia Tech)
Arkel Anugwom – Transfer Portal (Northwestern)
Micah DeBose – Transfer Portal (Vanderbilt)
Whew, 10 players from last year’s squad. For better or worse, this position group is getting totally overhauled.
Returning
Michael Carroll is the only returning starter, and Will Sanders played real snaps last year. Past them, only Jackson Lloyd, Casey Poe, and Mal Waldrep return.
In
Kaden Strayhorn – Freshman center from Michigan
Tyrell Miller – JUCO signee
There are quite a few other names circulating. Ty Heywood was a 5-star commit to Alabama a year ago before flipping to Michigan at the last minute. Now he’s in the portal, visiting Tuscaloosa, and many seem to think a deal seems likely. LSU’s DJ Chester is another one.
Freshmen
Bryson Cooley, Bear Fretwell, Jared Doughty, and Chris Booker
Defensive Line
Out
LT Overton – NFL Draft
Tim Keenan – NFL Draft
James Smith – Transfer Portal
Keon Keeley – Transfer Portal
Kelby Collins – Transfer Portal
Returning
As far as guys with experience, Edric Hill, Jeremiah Beaman, Jordan Renaud, Isaia Faga, and London Simmons all return with plenty of snaps under their belts. Steve MBoumoua and Fatutoa Henry also both return as reserves.
There is also the question of Jah-Marien Latham. He was a 6th year Covid senior last year, but my understanding is that he’s hoping for a special medical redshirt to get a 7th year. But there’s been no news one way or another yet.
In
Devan Thompkins – Coming in from USC. Thompkins was one of the top players in the portal and a huge interior DL pickup for the Tide.
There are a couple of other targets out there, and Kentucky DL Javeon Campbell is a guy that the staff tried hard to recruit a year ago.
Freshmen
There is some ambiguity on which guys will be Bandit defensive ends and who will be Wolf linebackers. For now, we’ll just use 247’s designations between DL and EDGE.
Jamarion Matthews, Corey Howard, and Nolan Wilson are the incoming freshmen.
Linebacker
Out
Justin Jefferson – NFL Draft/Eligibility
Deontae Lawson – NFL Draft/Eligibility
Nikai Hill-Green – NFL Draft/Eligibility
Qua Russaw – Transfer Portal
Noah Carter – Transfer Portal (Georgia Tech)
Returning
Wolf/Edge players: Yhonzae Pierre, Justin Hill
Inside backers: QB Reese, Cayden Jones, Duke Johnson, Luke Metz, Abduall Sandesr
In
Caleb Woodson – Nice addition from Virginia Tech
Freshmen
Xavier Griffin, Kamhariyan Johnson and Malique Franklin are the edge players, while Zay Hall is a true off-ball guy.
Cornerback
Out
Domani Jackson – NFL Draft/Eligibility
Cam Calhoun – Transfer Portal
DaShawn Jones – Eligibility/NFL Draft
Returning
Zabien Brown, Dijon Lee, and Red Morgan all return as starters. Chuck McDonald is the lone returning backup.
In
Carmelo O’Neal – A 6’4” transfer from Mercer that has played both corner and safety. Word is that he’s being viewed more as a corner, but we’ll see.
Nick Sherman – JUCO transfer
Freshmen
Jorden Edonds, and Zyan Gibson
Safety
Out
Kam Howard – Transfer Portal (Boston College)
Returning
Bray Hubbard and Keon Sabb are both still looking like return starters next year. However, either one could still declare for the NFL Draft. As far as reserves, Zay Mincey, Ivan Taylor, and Dre Kirkpatrick Jr (assuming he comes back from his DUI suspension) return.
In
None from the portal yet
Freshmen
Jireh Edwards and Rihyael Kelley
Specialists
Out
Punter Blake Doud – Eligibility
Kicker Peter Notaro – Transfer Portal (West Virginia)
Long Snapper David Bird – Transfer Portal
Returning
Punter Alex Asparuhov
Kicker Conor Talty
In
Long Snapper Ethan Strangle from Syracuse. Will be a preferred walk-on
Punter Adam Watford from North Alabama. Was an FCS All-American. Will be a preferred walk-on.
We’ll keep this page updated as more news comes in.
Category: General Sports
