It’s getting a little easier to accept how much wide receiver talent the University of Texas lost to the NFL Draft this month. Isaiah Bond, an Alabama wide receiver transfer, made his commitment to the Longhorns known on X Sunday morning, making Austin the home of one of the most sought-after recruits from the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Soon after he signed up for the transfer portal on Friday morning, word quickly spread that he would be spending the weekend in Texas. Bond had 48 catches for 668 yards and four touchdowns, which led the Crimson Tide in receiving. In a phone interview with ESPN on Sunday, Bond said, “You make the best decision for your company, just like in the business world.” Right now, my draft stock is my company. I believe I’m positioning myself to have better draft stock and raise that.
Bond was ranked No. 1 among wide receivers and No. 2 overall in the portal on Friday, according to the 247Sports transfer rankings. Bond was ranked No. 2 by 247Sports in the class of 2022 and a Top 50 national recruit.
Three days before to Sunday’s pledge, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers declared he would return to the state as a fourth-year junior the following season. Given that he threw for 3,479 yards, 22 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 2023, Bond should be among Ewers’ top targets. However, redshirt freshman Arch Manning might challenge Ewers in the offseason. Steve Sarkisian, the head coach of Texas, may or may not allow competition for the position during spring practice.
The now-famous fourth-and-31 touchdown pass to Bond came late in Alabama’s Iron Bowl victory over Auburn in the fourth quarter. Prior to defeating Georgia in the SEC title game on December 2, that victory preserved the Crimson Tide’s chances of making the College Football Playoffs. Following that victory, Alabama advanced to the College Football Playoffs as the fourth seed. However, they were defeated in overtime of a CFP semifinal at the Rose Bowl by eventual national champion Michigan.
