Nick Saban’s retirement from Alabama was always going to have an impact on the sport, whenever it happened. However, the program has been scrutinized for keeping players since he announced his resignation on January 10—nine days after the Crimson Tide’s defeat to Michigan in a national semifinal of the College Football Playoffs 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. Considering 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.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.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 playing on special teams.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. After attending fall camp, he was given a starting position at strong safety. He was perhaps the Tide’s greatest defensive player, helping the team place third in the SEC in terms of total defense (313.3 YPG). Grimsley, one of 17 ESPN 300 athletes to commit with 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.
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