Tag: Drew Sanders

Former Alabama LB Drew Sanders announces transfer destination

The rising junior LB will continue playing elsewhere in the SEC West.

Former Alabama linebacker Drew Sanders was one of numerous members of the 2021 Crimson Tide team that announced their entrances into the NCAA transfer portal. Sanders did not spend much time in the portal, as he has already announced where he will be heading.

Sanders will continue playing in the SEC West at the University of Arkansas, he said on Twitter.

The rising junior spent two seasons under Nick Saban at Alabama and accumulated 33 total tackles, two passes defended and a lone sack.

Many were surprised when Sanders entered the portal, seeing as he was expected to step into a lead role in 2022.

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Texas misses out on Alabama transfer LB Drew Sanders

Sanders announced his commitment to Arkansas on Sunday.

The Longhorns seemed to be in a good position to nab a commitment from linebacker Drew Sanders, but they swung and missed.

Texas and attracting linebacker talent from the portal seems to have no correlation, as Sanders is just the latest transfer portal target the Longhorns couldn’t capitalize on. They were also weren’t able to attract Jacoby Windmon who transferred to Michigan State.

Sanders took to Twitter to announce that he will be staying in the SEC, and transferring to Arkansas.

The former five-star will be a great addition to an Arkansas defense that already had a stout linebacker group, and recently learned their leading tackler Bumper Poole will be returning as well.

There are still some options in the portal for Texas, like another Alabama linebacker transfer by the name of Jaylen Moody.

Whether the Longhorns bring Moody in, or someone else, adding depth and talent will only bolster a defense that was among the nation’s worst.

Hogs Land Former Bama Backer

Drew Sanders announced on Twitter today that he will be a Razorback.

Drew Sanders announced on Twitter today that he will be a Razorback. The former Crimson Tide linebacker entered the transfer portal earlier this week when he left Alabama. He made an official visit to Arkansas on Friday.

Sanders immediately boosts a linebacker room that loses Hayden Henry and Grant Morgan. Andrew Parker also returns, giving defensive coordinator Barry Odom three options with SEC playing time.

Sanders signed with Alabama out of Denton (TX) Ryan. He comes to Arkansas with a minimum of three years of eligibility.

Five remaining players Texas should add this offseason

The Longhorns still have room to fill a few more roster spots, and these five players would be great additions.

Amidst the seasons end, Steve Sarkisian expressed that he had a goal of adding 33 or more scholarship players players to the team for the 2022 season.

Sarkisian was clearly upset with the lack of depth on the roster, and the lack of production by the players on the roster as well. The Longhorns have worked extremely hard in recruiting this offseason, and have put together a fantastic class that currently ranks as the No. 5 class in 247Sports’ recruiting rankings.

The class is headlined by five-star offensive tackle Kelvin Banks, along with 13 other players across both sides of the line which will address major needs that the roster was lacking this past season when they went 5-7.

There is still some work to be done in terms of adding players, as the Longhorns are four players away from Sarkisian’s goal of 33 new scholarship players and might even be able to surpass that amount.

Here are five players that Texas should add in order to strengthen the roster and the team’s overall depth whether it be recruits or transfers.

Alabama transfer LB Drew Sanders receives crystal ball in favor of Texas

It’s shaping up to be a strong offseason for Texas.

The crystal ball predictions for Texas have been pouring in within the last few hours, as the coaching staff finally seems to have put some giddy-up in their step.

After missing out on multiple top transfers on both sides of the ball, the Longhorns have been trending in the right direction for a couple of the most coveted transfers in the portal.

Not only have they received four crystal ball predictions for TCU’s Ochaun Mathis, a defensive end who has been on second-team All-Big 12 twice in his career, but they recently received one for Alabama transfer and linebacker Drew Sanders.

The former five-star was one of the handful of players that entered their names into the transfer portal after Alabama’s loss to Georgia in the national championship game.

Sanders is a Denton native, and while he didn’t receive a ton of opportunity to play at Alabama, he still was a solid contributor. Over his two years as a part of the Crimson Tide, Sanders recorded 33 total tackles, one sack, and two pass deflections.

He is someone who can provide much needed depth at the linebacker position, as although Luke Brockermeyer was serviceable this past season, he left more to be desired.

The Texas staff is looking to revamp a defense that ranked No. 100 in total defense this past season giving up close to 430 yards per game. Bringing in eight recruits across the defensive line, along with adding a couple talented transfers, this unit may go from an utter embarrassment to a strength.

Report: Alabama transfer Drew Sanders plans to visit Texas

A big-time transfer target will be in Austin this weekend.

Alabama saw a mass exodus of players hit the transfer portal after their national championship loss on Monday.

One of the players on their way out to door in Tuscaloosa will be taking a visit to Austin this weekend, per Inside Texas.

Sanders is a former five-star from the 2020 recruiting class who would be a valuable addition to Texas’ defense. The second-year linebacker totaled 24 tackles and one sack while batting injury much of the 2021 season. He could fit right in at either the “jack” or “buck” position in Texas’ defense.

Sanders showed off his potential with a few big plays in a game against Florida early in the season.

Texas has already done well in the transfer portal this offseason as the Horns landed former Ohio State Buckeyes’ Quinn Ewers and Ryan Watts. Adding Sanders would be another key piece to the puzzle as Texas looks to rebuild the roster.

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Multiple Alabama players have entered the transfer portal, could become Texas targets

Five Alabama players have entered the transfer portal. Could Texas be a potential landing spot?

Alabama lost the national championship on Monday night as Bryce Young threw an ill-advised pick-six to Georgia’s Kelee Ringo to ice the game.

Less than a day after the hard-fought loss, Alabama has lost five players to the transfer portal.

  • OL Tommy Brown
  • TE Jahleel Billingsley
  • LB King Mwikuta
  • LB Drew Sanders
  • QB Paul Tyson

Texas should have an advantage in recruiting a few of the Alabama transfers if they chose to reach out. These players will have some familiarity with the Texas staff containing multiple former Alabama assistants. The Longhorns were able to land running back Keilan Robinson from Alabama last offseason.

Robinson sent out a cryptic tweet after the news dropped.

It would make sense for Texas to target Billingsley, Mwikuta and Sanders as tight end and linebacker are positions of need in Austin.

Billingsley would fit right in at tight end at Texas. The former four-star played in eight games this season while he totaled 256 receiving yards and three scores. He should already have a strong understanding of Sarkisian’s offense as he played in it last season.

Linebacker is a position Texas needs to see major improvements from if they want to have a bounce-back 2022 season.

Drew Sanders is a former five-star from the state of Texas who was injured most of the 2021 season. He is an edge rusher who would fit the “Jack” position in Texas’ defense.

This marks the second trip to the transfer portal for Mwikuta. The third-year linebacker was a former top 150 prospect but has been stuck in a special teams role at Alabama.

Texas will welcome Alabama to Austin in Week 2 of the 2022 season. Potentially an intriguing storyline if any of the former tide players end up at Texas.

Alabama OLB Drew Sanders enters NCAA transfer portal

Alabama outside linebacker Drew Sanders has entered the transfer portal

The season may have come to an end just last night for the Tide, but that hasn’t slowed the news cycle down one bit around the program. The latest is that former five-star recruit, Drew Sanders has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Sanders joins a handful of former Tide players in the portal including tight end Jahleel Billingsley and backup quarterback Paul Tyson.

Drew Sanders spent two seasons in Tuscaloosa and is a promising prospect. Sanders totaled 33 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1 sack in his career at Alabama.

On3 Sports’ Matt Zenitz was the first to report on Sanders entering the portal.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for all the latest on the Crimson Tide!

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Nick Saban confirms Drew Sanders is out for Mississippi State

Nick Saban said Drew Sanders is practicing but is not fully ready for game action yet.

Problems at the outside linebacker position across from Will Anderson have continued. After Christopher Allen went down with a foot injury for the season, Drew Sanders was supposed to be the one to step up as the replacement.

Now, Alabama will be without the sophomore for the second consecutive week. Sanders is dealing with a hand injury. Nick Saban said he is practicing but is not fully ready for game action yet.

“He’s out there in pads every day but it’s not safe for him to use his hand yet,” said Saban. So he’s not going to play this week.”

With an injury like a hand, being able to lightly practice is possible. Going full contact is where Sanders would be limited, especially at an important position on the edge.

Going into Texas A&M, Saban said Sanders was going to be “game-to-game for a few weeks.” All we can do now is wait for next week’s injury report heading into Tennessee.

Freshman Dallas Turner and sophomore Chris Braswell are still expected to pick up for the injured Sanders. The former was able to record five tackles and one tackle for loss against the Aggies.

Mississippi State will provide a different gameplan, though, with some more rotation from Turner. With how often Mike Leach is going to air it out, the pass rush will need to be subbing in and out for all four quarters. Turner may be the main guy but Braswell will get opportunities.

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Grading Alabama’s defensive position groups at the halfway point

Let’s look at how the Alabama defensive position units have graded out at the halfway point of the season!

Unfortunately, we are already at the halfway point of the college football season. After last week’s loss to Texas A&M, Alabama sits at No. 5 in the country with a 5-1 record.

Since we have made it to the halfway point, it is time to give a midseason grade to each of the position groups. Yesterday we looked at the offensive position groups. Today we will look at the defensive position groups! Let’s get started!

Defensive Line B-

This group has been a little disappointing this season, but they have not been bad by any stretch of the imagination. Only one guy has been a consistent force on the defensive line for Alabama and that is Phidarian Mathis.

Mathis has racked up 3.5 sacks through the halfway point, which is a very solid number for an interior defensive lineman.

Some of the players such as Justin Eboigbe, DJ Dale, Byron Young, and even Tim Smith need to become more consistent players for the Tide.

Outside Linebackers A

Will Anderson has been an absolute animal for the Alabama defense. Anderon has three sacks on the season but is also third in the country in tackles for loss with 11.

Unfortunately, injuries have plagued the outside linebacker position opposite of Anderson. Christopher Allen’s season was cut short in the opener against Miami so Drew Sanders replaced the talented Allen. Then against Ole Miss, Sanders suffered a hand injury and is now week-to-week so to speak.

True freshman Dallas Turner has stepped up in the absence of Sanders and is doing a pretty good job.

The outside linebackers have been the most positive group along the defense this season.

Inside Linebackers C+

The lofty expectations for the Alabama defense heading into the 2021 season had a lot to do with the pair of inside linebackers that Alabama would have in Christian Harris and Henry To’oT’o.

Now that we are at the halfway point, it is safe to say those two players have not lived up to expectations. Now don’t get me wrong, they have flashed how great they can, but they both have also missed tackles and missed assignments. And they are both better than what they played so far.

Let’s see if they can turn this around in the second half of the season.

Cornerbacks B+

This group, much like the outside linebacker group, has really played pretty consistently all season. Josh Jobe has had the occasional penalty, but if we are being honest, in the pass and flag happy world in which college football is played, some penalties are to be expected.

Jalyn Armour-Davis has maybe been the surprise player of the season for the Tide. He is always in position and if he doesn’t make a play on the ball, he brings the receiver down quickly with no yards after the catch.

We have also seen the backups get a start this season in Kool-Aid McKinstry and Marcs Banks and they have proven to be valuable depth at the cornerback position.

Safeties / Stars C+

It is a common theme among the Alabama defense this season, the word inconsistent. Alabama returned plenty of experience in the back end of the defense and for whatever reason, they have simply not performed to their capabilities.

Jordan Battle isn’t an elite safety, he’s just steady. DeMarcco Hellams is constantly caught out of position and displays poor open-field tackling. Then you have Malachi Moore and Brian Branch who have yet to make a splash play from the star position.

The season is only half over, so that means there is plenty of time for each position group to correct its mistakes and get back to the Alabama defensive standard.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for all the latest on the Crimson Tide!

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