Tag: Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama transfer quarterback announces commitment to ACC program

The Alabama quarterback is heading to the ACC.

The lone Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback to enter the transfer portal up to this point in the cycle, Dylan Lonergan has now made an official decision as to where he will play next season, committing to the Boston College Eagles on Tuesday night.

This commitment to Boston College reunites Lonergan with former Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, who will be entering his second season as the head coach of the Eagles in 2025. O’Brien previously recruited Lonergan to Tuscaloosa out of high school during his time with the program.

A four-star prospect in Alabama’s 2023 class, Lonergan has been a backup to Jalen Milroe during his two seasons in Tuscaloosa where he sat third on the depth chart behind Ty Simpson. Over that span, Lonergan did see action in which he completed 7-of-8 passes for 35 yards, while also rushing for 21 yards on two attempts.

With Lonergan committing to Boston College, Alabama’s 2025 quarterback room is currently set to feature Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson, Austin Mack, and Keelon Russell at the time of writing.

Alabama transfer offensive lineman commits to ACC program

The Alabama offensive lineman has made a decision.

The latest Alabama Crimson Tide transfer portal entrant to make a decision did so Tuesday afternoon, as offensive lineman Naquil Betrand announced his commitment to play for the Syracuse Orange in 2025.

Betrand was a former transfer from the Texas A&M Aggies last offseason to Alabama, but did not see much playing time in Tuscaloosa prior to entering the transfer portal earlier this month. The offensive lineman primarily served as a backup during his lone season at Alabama.

Taking a look at Alabama in the transfer portal as well, Betrand is now the sixth Crimson Tide player to announce a playing destination for 2025. Now committed to Syracuse as well, Betrand is the first Alabama transfer from this cycle now set to play for an ACC team in 2025.

RELATED: Alabama football 2024-25 offseason transfer portal tracker

Betrand was one-of-two Alabama offensive lineman in the transfer portal, joined by Miles McVay. McVay has yet to make a commitment decision.

Alabama defensive lineman enters NCAA transfer portal

A third Alabama defensive lineman has entered the transfer portal.

Yet another Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman has officially entered the NCAA transfer portal, as Damon Payne Jr. announced his intentions to exit the program Tuesday morning.

Payne had previously been with the Crimson Tide since the 2021 season. In that four season span, one of which he redshirted in 2021, Payne amassed a combined 30 tackles, three TFL, 0.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries with the Crimson Tide.

This season, Payne, a redshirt junior, had what was a career-year with the Crimson Tide, amassing a total of 14 tackles with one TFL and one fumble recovery across 12 games.

Payne now joins a lengthy list of Alabama players who have announced their intentions to enter the NCAA transfer portal so far this cycle, some of which are defensive linemen.

RELATED: Alabama football 2024-25 offseason transfer portal tracker

The other defensive linemen in that group are Jehiem Oatis and Hunter Osborne, the former of which has committed to the Colorado Buffaloes.

Alabama loses commitment from 2026 four-star defensive lineman

Alabama loses the lone member of their 2026 recruiting class.

After previously committing to the Alabama Crimson Tide back in October, defensive line prospect Vodney Cleveland officially decommitted from the program Monday night.

Cleveland had previously been committed to Alabama since Oct. 31, 2024.

An in-state prospect for the Crimson Tide, Cleveland is considered as the nation’s No. 91 overall prospect in the 2026 class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, as well as the No. 6 player in the state of Alabama out of one of the state’s premier programs, Parker High School. Cleveland, a four-star defensive lineman, also ranks as the nation’s No. 9 overall player at the position.

As of Monday night, Cleveland was the lone member of Alabama’s 2026 recruiting class, meaning that the Crimson Tide currently hold no current commitments for this upcoming cycle.

The Crimson Tide are now only one-of-two SEC programs who did not have at-least one commitment in their 2026 recruiting class at the time of writing, joined by the Kentucky Wildcats.

Alabama transfer wide receiver commits to Big 12 program

An Alabama transfer wide receiver has announced his 2025 playing destination.

Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Kobe Prentice committed to the Baylor Bears on Tuesday afternoon.

Prentice is the first Alabama wide receiver currently in the transfer portal to decide where he will play in 2025. The other three at the moment are undecided.

RELATED: Alabama football 2024-25 offseason transfer portal tracker

The veteran receiver has been a key member of Alabama’s wideout room dating to his freshman season in 2022. Prentice had a combined 60 receptions for 780 yards and five touchdowns across the past three seasons.

This season, Prentice finished with a stat line of 11 receptions for 129 yards and a touchdown in 10 games played.

Prior to his time in Tuscaloosa, Prentice was a four-star, top-100 prospect in the Crimson Tide’s 2022 recruiting class out of in-state Calera High School.

Alabama cornerback withdraws from transfer portal, staying with Crimson Tide

The highly-touted Alabama freshman will now return to Tuscaloosa next fall.

After previously announcing that he would be entering the NCAA transfer portal Monday night, Alabama Crimson Tide cornerback Jaylen Mbakwe according to reports will no longer be doing so, and will instead return to Tuscaloosa for the 2025 season.

Mbakwe, a true freshman, saw action in 11 games for the Crimson Tide this season at cornerback where he had 15 tackles, one TFL, one interception, and two PD. The true freshman also saw action on special teams, returning two punts for 46 yards.

Prior to Alabama, Mbakwe was a major piece of the Crimson Tide’s 2024 recruiting class where he was rated as a five-star prospect out of in-state Clay-Chalkville High School. The lone two players rated higher than the cornerback were Ryan Williams and Julian Sayin, the latter of which never appeared in a game at Alabama before transferring.

Mbakwe will now officially return to Alabama in 2025 where he is likely to see increased playing time next season.

Alabama transfer defensive tackle announces commitment to Big 12 program

An Alabama transfer has committed to Deion Sanders and Colorado.

The first Alabama Crimson Tide football player to announce their intentions to enter the NCAA transfer portal this cycle, Jehiem Oatis has now made an official decision as to where he will play in 2025, committing to the Colorado Buffaloes.

Oatis previously announced his intentions to enter the portal back in October after he appeared in the first four games of the season for the Crimson Tide.

A former four-star prospect in Alabama’s 2022 class, Oatis saw significant playing time along the Crimson Tide’s defensive front in each of his three seasons in Tuscaloosa. Over that span, Oatis amassed a combined stat line of 57 tackles, three TFL, 1.5 sacks, and five PD.

This season, Oatis played in only four games prior to entering the portal, as mentioned above, where he had two tackles and one PD.

Oatis is now set to suit up for head coach Deion Sanders and Colorado in 2025 where the defensive tackle is expected to likely play a significant role.

Malachi Moore and Tyler Booker named to AP All-American Second-Team

Alabama duo named to AP All-American Second Team.

The Alabama Crimson Tide will wrap up their 2024 campaign in two weeks against the Michigan Wolverines in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31 from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. It will be the second straight season the two sides have met in the postseason after clashing in last year’s Rose Bowl.

The Crimson Tide’s season is characterized by disappointment after missing out on the first 12-team Playoff, but there are many positive aspects to take away from it. I know there are national title expectations in Tuscaloosa, and for good reason, but 9-3 in Kalen DeBoer’s first year is far from a bad thing.

Two players who had a massive impact on the start of DeBoer’s tenure are Captains Malachi Moore and Tyler Booker who were both recognized as AP Second-Team All-Americans. They were both also listed as First-Team All-SEC members last week.

Booker, a junior, has been a two-year starter and will likely hear his name called in the first or second round of the 2025 NFL draft after not allowing a single sack in all 12 games this year according to Pro Football Focus. Meanwhile, Moore is a fifth year senior who has been a staple of the Alabama program and will participate in the Reese’s Senior Bowl next Spring to help boost his draft stock

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Notre Dame football lands former Alabama transfer

The Irish strike in the transfer portal

While Notre Dame football has yet to see a player enter the transfer portal, that doesn’t mean they haven’t been active with those who have.

Ohio native and former Alabama cornerback [autotag]Devonta Smith[/autotag] committed to the Irish on Monday afternoon, adding some much needed depth to Notre Dame’s secondary. They will most likely lose star corner Benjamin Morrison, even though he is out for the remainder of the season with an injury.

Smith saw his best season this past fall with the Crimson Tide, registering 30 tackles and forcing a fumble. He also batted five passes away, showing that he has the ability to cover at a high level as well.

It’s had to believe that Smith will be a starter for the Irish, but he will most likely give them quality minutes when he does get a chance to see the field. This is a great pick-up for Notre Dame.

Oct 12, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back DeVonta Smith (8) brings down South Carolina Gamecocks tight end Joshua Simon (6) at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

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Alabama cornerback, former 5-star prospect enters NCAA transfer portal

One of Alabama’s more surprising transfer portal entries occurred Monday night.

The transfer portal declarations continue to roll in for the Alabama Crimson Tide, with arguably no decision more shocking so far this cycle than what in fact occurred Monday night when true freshman cornerback Jaylen Mbakwe announced his intentions to exit the program.

Mbakwe’s transfer portal decision was announced Monday night according to multiple reports, with the true freshman shortly after releasing a statement.

During his freshman season, Mbakwe was primarily a backup at cornerback for the Crimson Tide, but did however still see a notable amount of action to post a stat line of 15 tackles, one TFL, one interception, and two PD. The cornerback also played a role on special teams, returning two punts for 46 yards.

Prior to Alabama, Mbakwe was a top name in the Crimson Tide’s 2024 class, rated as a five-star cornerback out of in-state Clay-Chalkville High School.

Mbakwe’s entry into the transfer portal now brings Alabama’s total for this cycle to 15, one of which is returning to the Crimson Tide.