Tracker for Alabama football portal following Nick Saban’s retirement
Nick Saban’s departure from Alabama was always going to have an impact on the sport, sooner or later. However, the program has been under observation with regard to keeping players since he announced his resignation on January 10—nine days after the Crimson Tide lost to Michigan in a College Football Playoff national semifinal in the Rose Bowl Game.
Since the release on January 19, ten Alabama players have accessed the transfer site; the three biggest departures are offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, wide receiver Isaiah Bond, and safety Caleb Downs.
After finishing 25-3 in his two seasons at Washington, which included a trip to the CFP national championship game, new coach Kalen DeBoer rose to one of the top positions in the nation. It will be interesting to see how DeBoer, who has a 104-12 career record as a head coach, approaches the SEC recruiting landscape in the future.
The Alabama players that have accessed the transfer portal since Saban’s statement on January 10 are listed chronologically below:
Bond, who subsequently transferred to Texas, was most likely the main factor in Alabama’s 2023 College Football Playoff appearance. His 31-yard touchdown reception on a fourth-and-goal play against Auburn helped the Crimson Tide win the Iron Bowl 27–24. With 48 receptions for 668 yards and four touchdowns, he topped the club in receiving yards.
Linebacker Shawn Murphy is a redshirt freshman.
via the gateway on January 13
A new educational institution:committed on January 15th to Florida State
In 13 games during the previous season, Shawn Murphy made three tackles for Alabama (two solo). He was the best inside linebacker of that cycle and finished 37th overall in the 2022 ESPN 300.
Ricks redshirted in 2023 despite being 19th in the 2023 ESPN 300 (No. 2 CB). On October 22, 2022, the IMG Academy product was reclassified into the 2023 cycle and inked an early signing deal with Alabama.
Antonio Kite, a defensive back in his redshirt year,
via the gateway on January 13
A new educational institution:Dedicated on January 17th to Auburn
Kite entered the 2022 ESPN 300 ranked 119th overall, having graduated from Anniston High School in Alabama. In 2023, he participated in seven games, primarily on special teams.
Senior defensive back Trey Amos
Date of entry: January 15.
Prior to the 2023 season, Amos transferred to Alabama after spending three years as a student at Louisiana Lafayette. Last season, he participated in all 14 games, opening with a 24–21 victory over Arkansas. Twelve tackles, six of them solo.
Amari Niblack | Tight end | Sophomore
Portal entered on January 14
A new educational institution was dedicated to Texas on January 18th
Niblack, a graduate of Lakewood High School in Florida, entered the Alabama program ranked 298th overall in the 2022 ESPN 300. In 2023, he played in every game with four starts, totaling 20 receptions for 327 yards and four touchdowns.
In addition to leading the Alabama defense, Downs’ 107 tackles placed him fourth in the SEC. Out of fall camp, he was able to establish himself as the starting strong safety. He was perhaps the Tide’s greatest defensive player, helping the team finish third in the SEC in total defense (313.3 YPG).
Proctor shocked several by deciding to switch from in-state Iowa to Alabama prior to the early signing period in the 2023 recruiting cycle. Proctor was ranked 10th overall in the 2023 ESPN 300.
Grimsley, one of 17 ESPN 300 athletes to commit to Alabama in this most recent recruiting cycle, was ranked 267th overall in the 2024 ESPN 300. He was a student at Florida’s Tampa Catholic High School.
Two five-star players, Julian Sayin and cornerback Jaylen Mbakwe, signed with the Crimson Tide this month. Sayin is ranked third overall in the 2024 ESPN 300. Sayin was a senior at Carlsbad High School in California in 2023, when he passed for 2,369 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just one interception. Sayin needed to use the gateway because he had already begun his classes at Alabama.
