The Alabama Crimson Tide suffered one of the more notable losses to the NCAA transfer portal so far this offseason Sunday night, as true freshman inside linebacker Justin Okoronkwo announced his intentions to do so.
Okoronkwo is the third Alabama inside linebacker to enter the transfer portal since the season ended, joining Jeremiah Alexander and Sterling Dixon. The room has also seen starter Jihaad Campbell depart for the NFL draft, as well as added Colorado Buffaloes transfer Nikhai Hill-Green to the returning duo of Deontae Lawson and Justin Jefferson.
As for Okoronkwo in particular, the linebacker was among Alabama’s most productive true freshmen on defense in 2024 after coming to Tuscaloosa as a three-star prospect out of Germany. In all, Okoronkwo amassed a total of 14 tackles and one TFL as a reserve inside linebacker.
With the entrance of Okoronkwo into the transfer portal, Alabama’s number of players who have entered this offseason now sits at 26 total, two of which have decided to return to the Crimson Tide.
Alabama true freshman linebacker Justin Okoronkwo has entered the transfer portal, @chris_hummer and I have learned for @cbssports/@247Sports.
Posted 14 tackles this season.https://t.co/10Sz3YxlzO pic.twitter.com/9bg7L6xbJT
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 6, 2025