Category: Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama lands highly-touted 2025 linebacker Darrell Johnson

Alabama lands the talented 2025 linebacker out of Georgia

Alabama has picked up one of the biggest recruiting wins of the DeBoer era so far on Wednesday afternoon, as the Crimson Tide secured a commitment from highly-touted linebacker Darrell Johnson.

Johnson announced his commitment to the Crimson Tide over programs that included Florida, Florida State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, UCF, and more.

According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Johnson is a highly-rated four-star linebacker in the 2025 class out of Dodge County High School in Georgia where he is among the state’s top players. Johnson is also rated as the nation’s No. 28 overall player, as well as the No. 3 linebacker in the class.

The four-star linebacker is now the sixth commitment of Alabama’s 2025 recruiting class, as well as the highest-rated of the group. Johnson is also the second of the group to come from out-of-state, joining athlete Zymear Smith out of Maryland.

Alabama’s newest commitment also joins a line of top prospects from the state of Georgia to commit to the Crimson Tide across recent years, joining others such as Caleb Downs, Justice Haynes, Elijah Pritchett, Will Anderson Jr., and Brian Branch, among others.

Get more Alabama coverage on Roll Tide Wire

Kadyn Proctor to reportedly re-enter transfer portal, commit to Alabama

Kadyn Proctor to reportedly re-enter transfer portal, return to Alabama possible

One of the college football offseason’s more intriguing storylines to follow so far has been surrounding Alabama, where the Crimson Tide saw a significant amount of roster turnover after the retirement of head coach Nick Saban.

With a majority of those moves coming via the transfer portal, many notable names departed Tuscaloosa to play for new programs, some of which were a little more well-known such as Caleb Downs to Ohio State. Well, one of the aforementioned names made headlines once again with the transfer portal on Tuesday night, as Kadyn Proctor is reportedly set to re-enter the portal and commit back to Alabama.

Proctor, who previously transferred to Iowa earlier this offseason, started in every game at left tackle for Alabama a year ago as a true freshman and was set to maintain the starting spot assuming he had stayed in Tuscaloosa.

An Iowa native, Proctor was the nation’s No. 5 overall prospect in the 2023 class according to the 247Sports Composite recruiting rankings, as well as the top offensive tackle nationally. Proctor was also the nation’s No. 2 rated offseason transfer according to 247Sports, trailing only the aforementioned Downs.

The spring transfer portal window is set to open in April, and according to a report from On3’s Hayes Fawcett, will officially re-enroll at Alabama this spring.

Alabama lands elite three-point shooter via transfer portal

Alabama lands talented scorer via the transfer portal

According to multiple reports, Alabama basketball has landed a commitment via the transfer portal from Pepperdine guard Houston Mallette.

Mallette has spent the previous three seasons at Pepperdine where he holds a career average of 13.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 2.3 APG across 94 games, as well as holding a 42.9%/37.5%/80.6% shooting line. Of those 94 games, 90 have been starts, with the talented guard also coming off arguably the best single season of his collegiate career.

This past year for a Pepperdine team that went 13-20 overall, as well as 5-11 in WCC play, Mallette averaged a career-high 14.7 PPG, 3.2 RPG, and 2.4 APG across 31 games, each of which he started. Mallette also shot a notable 41.5% from three-point range, along with 43.1% from the field, as well as 81.7% from the free throw line.

The former Pepperdine guard is now the first transfer commitment for the Crimson Tide this offseason, with Mallette likely to play a significant role as an experienced player on Alabama’s 2024-25 roster.

Alabama lands highly-rated four-star 2025 wide receiver

Alabama lands commitment from star in-state 2025 wide receiver

After securing a commitment from four-star athlete Zymear Smith this past Saturday, Alabama and new head coach Kalen DeBoer have landed yet another pledge to their 2025 class, as highly-touted wide receiver Derick Smith has committed to the Crimson Tide.

Smith, an in-state prospect out of Southside High School in Selma, Alabama, is the fifth commitment of the Crimson Tide’s 2025 recruiting class, as well as the fourth recruit from within the Yellowhammer State.

A highly-rated four-star prospect, Smith is considered the nation’s No. 51 overall player in the class according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. Smith is also the No. 6 ranked wide receiver nationally and the No. 5 player in the state of Alabama.

While considered a wide receiver, Smith is a talented two-way prospect who has seen action on both sides of the ball at the prep level. On offense, Smith had 1,487 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns on 46 receptions, while also rushing for 1,036 yards and nine scores on 65 attempts. On defense, he amassed 74 tackles, 15 TFL, 11 sacks, and three FRs at the Class 3A level of Alabama high school football last season.

As mentioned, Smith now joins an Alabama 2025 class where he is now the highest-rated player of the group. Also included are other four-star prospects such as Anthony Rogers, Antonio Coleman, Smith, and Myles Johnson.

Alabama’s Mark Sears named finalist for Bob Cousy Award

Alabama’s Mark Sears named finalist for nation’s top point guard

Announced on Monday afternoon, Alabama’s Mark Sears has been named a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, which is presented to the top point guard in college basketball annually.

In addition to Sears, the other finalists for the award were UConn’s Tristen Newton, Marquette’s Tyler Kolek, Purdue’s Braden Smith, and Houston’s Jamal Shead.

Sears, who is the conversation for the 2023-24 SEC Player of the Year, is leading Alabama in scoring so far this season at 20.7 PPG, ranking No. 1 in the SEC at the time of writing, as well as No. 20 nationally. Starting in all 29 of the Crimson Tide’s games, Sears is also averaging 4.2 RPG, 4.2 APG, and 1.8 SPG, as well as shooting 51% from the field, 43.3% from three, and 86.3% from the free throw line.

The SEC has not seen a player win the Bob Cousy Award since the 2015-16 season, when Kentucky’s Tyler Ulis took home the honor. Ulis is also the lone player from the SEC to ever win the Bob Cousy Award.

4-star defensive lineman flips back to Alabama from rival Auburn

Antonio Coleman flips commitment from Auburn to Alabama

While the attention surrounding Tuscaloosa, Alabama, this past weekend fell on the Crimson Tide’s basketball team, the football program also made headlines, as Alabama picked up a big commitment from Antonio Coleman.

Coleman, who was originally an Alabama commit, flipped to Auburn back in Dec. of 2023 but opted to flip back to the Crimson Tide on Saturday.

An in-state prospect for the Crimson Tide, Coleman is rated as a four-star defensive lineman out of Saraland High School in Alabama, which is the same school that incoming five-star wide receiver Ryan Williams attended. Coleman is also considered the No. 15 defensive lineman in the 2025 class, as well as the No. 11 player in the state of Alabama according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

The four-star is now the third commitment of Alabama’s 2025 class, each of which comes from in-state. Coleman joins fellow four-stars Anthony Rogers, a running back out of Carver-Montgomery (AL), and Myles Johnson, an athlete out of T.R. Miller (AL).

Alabama defeats Florida in OT, holds on to one game lead in SEC

The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Florida Gators in overtime to remain in sole possession of first place in the SEC standings.

Transfer Grant Nelson had 22 points, eight rebounds, and a season-high six blocks as Alabama secured a 98-93 overtime win over Florida to maintain a one game lead in the SEC standings.

‘Bama has now won 16 straight SEC home games and is 11-2 in conference play and 19-7 overall this season. An ugly 2-5 stretch of basketball in November notwithstanding, this Nate Oats led team has been among the most prolific teams in the entire country and their odds of winning the SEC in wire-to-wire fashion continue to grow.

It wasn’t easy on Tuesday night though, as ‘Bama went one for their first 17 from the perimeter and needed a clutch offensive rebound and bucket from Aaron Estrada to secure the victory over a Gators team that, lately, has looked like not only an NCAA Tournament team, but a potential Sweet 16 caliber squad.

The loss pushes the Gators into sixth place in the SEC, although it likely won’t have a major impact on their at-large hopes. Golden’s team has two games left against Vanderbilt (2-10) and one against Missouri (0-13), which should pad the W-L record, but they also take on South Carolina on the road and have a home game left against Alabama.

A win in that one would go a long way toward putting this team on the six line (or higher) in the Big Dance, assuming they take care of business elsewhere.

Alabama picks up commitment from Washington transfer tight end

Alabama adds Washington transfer tight end to 2024 roster

One of two transfer additions for the Crimson Tide on Monday night along with Michigan safety Keon Sabb, Alabama has landed a commitment from a tight end in Washington’s Josh Cuevas.

Cuevas, who originally began his collegiate career with two seasons at Cal Poly in 2021-22, appeared in all 15 games for the national runner-up Huskies this past season. During this past fall, Cuevas had four receptions from the tight end position for 164 yards and a touchdown, while also making three tackles as well.

The addition of Cuevas means the Washington transfer is yet another name to watch in an Alabama tight end room that is tasked with replacing Amari Niblack, who transferred to Texas earlier this offseason. Cuevas is also an experienced option and should factor in alongside the likes of CJ Dippre and Robbie Ouzts, among others.

The eighth transfer addition for Alabama so far this offseason, Cuevas is now the fourth player to follow new head coach Kalen DeBoer from Washington, joining offensive lineman Parker Brailsford, wide receiver Germie Bernard, and quarterback Austin Mack.

Alabama adds talented Michigan transfer safety to 2024 roster

Alabama lands Michigan safety via transfer portal

Alabama and new head coach Kalen DeBoer picked up a big commitment Monday night through the transfer portal, as Michigan safety Keon Sabb officially announced his intentions to join the Crimson Tide program.

Sabb has spent each of the past two seasons with the Wolverines but did not record any in-game stats until this past season for the national champions. A player who appeared in 14 games, five of which he started at safety, Sabb had a combined 28 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 2 INTs, and 5 PD.

Originally a Top 100 overall prospect in the 2022 class out of IMG Academy in Florida, Sabb was one of the highest-rated recruits in Michigan’s 2022 class and is now set to join an Alabama transfer class that is shaping up to be an impactful one in 2024. Sabb joins others such as Domani Jackson and LT Overton on the defensive side of the ball, with all three likely to make key impacts next fall.

With the Crimson Tide having lost four of five starters from their secondary this past year, it’s clear why the pickup of Sabb is a big one for Alabama. The Michigan transfer could very easily start in 2024 for the Crimson Tide and will feature at safety alongside the likes of Malachi Moore, DeVonta Smith, Tony Mitchell, and others.

Alabama reportedly hires new offensive line, tight end coaches

Alabama has reportedly hired two new assistant coaches

According to reports, new Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer is finalizing his on-field coaching staff for next season, as the Crimson Tide are hiring both Chris Kapilovic and Bryan Ellis as their offensive line and tight end coaches, respectively.

Kapilovic comes to Tuscaloosa from Baylor, where he was hired as the Bears’ new offensive line coach earlier this offseason. Prior to Baylor, Kapilovic was at Michigan State for four seasons, while also having previously spent time at both Colorado and North Carolina.

Kapilovic also replaces former Alabama offensive line coach Scott Huff, who was named the Crimson Tide’s newest OL coach earlier this offseason, but recently left to join the Seattle Seahawks.

Ellis comes to Tuscaloosa from Georgia Southern and joins Alabama as their tight ends coach after serving as the offensive coordinator in Statesboro each of the last two seasons. In 2022, the Eagles ranked No. 34 nationally with an average of 32.7 PPG, while also averaging 466.7 yards per game, as well as ranking No. 49 nationally at 30.2 PPG with an average of 419.5 yards per game a year ago.

Before Georgia Southern, Ellis also spent time at Western Kentucky and USC.