Tag: Justin Okoronkwo

Alabama transfer linebacker announces commitment to SEC program

An Alabama transfer will now play the Crimson Tide in 2025.

One of the more surprising transfer portal entrants this offseason, Alabama Crimson Tide inside linebacker Justin Okoronkwo has now officially made his playing decision for the 2025 season, committing to the South Carolina Gamecocks on Friday morning.

Okoronkwo, who was a true freshman during the 2024 season, previously entered the NCAA transfer portal earlier this month after Alabama’s loss to the Michigan Wolverines in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

During the 2024 season, Okoronkwo primarily played a special teams role for the Crimson Tide. Over the course of the season, Okoronkwo made 14 tackles with one TFL.

Prior to Alabama, Okoronkwo was a member of the Crimson Tide’s 2024 recruiting class, and was an international prospect who ranked as a three-star linebacker out of Germany.

Looking ahead, Okoronkwo will also face his former team as early as next season, as Alabama is currently set to travel to South Carolina on Saturday, Oct. 25. The time of the game is currently to be determined.

Alabama freshman linebacker to enter NCAA transfer portal

The linebacker had a solid freshman season in Tuscaloosa.

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.

41 days until Alabama football kicks off the 2024 season

In just 41 days, Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama football team will kickoff the 2024 season!

In 42 days, Kalen DeBoer will usher in a new era of Alabama Crimson Tide football, replacing the legendary [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] as head coach in Tuscaloosa.

Coach DeBoer and the Crimson Tide will take on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Aug. 31 to kick off the 2024 college football season inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.

At Roll Tide Wire, we will count down the days until Alabama football takes the field.

Freshman linebacker [autotag]Justin Okoronkwo[/autotag] currently wears No. 41 for the Crimson Tide, but today we will look at the last player to wear the number, [autotag]Chris Braswell[/autotag].

Braswell put together a spectacular senior season in 2023 where he accumulated 42.5 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and eight sacks on his way to being drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft.

5 Alabama football early signees who are being undervalued

These five signees are being undervalued by most

Wednesday’s early signing day brought a lot of drama for fans around the country, but for the most part, it was business as usual for [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Most of Alabama’s signees were already committed to the Tide before signing day, but the flips of running back Kevin Riley and athlete Aeryn Hampton were pleasant surprises for Alabama fans.

As the dust settles from Wednesday’s excitement, we now have a clear look at the freshman class for the Crimson Tide. While quarterback Julian Sayin and athlete Jaylen Mbakwe will steal most of the attention, there are a handful of signees who are being undervalued by most.

Here are a few that stand out:

Zabien Brown commitment helps put Alabama in top 15 nationally

This cycle is far from over, though and Nick Saban’s squad is beginning to catch up with the usual contenders.

Alabama won last year’s recruiting cycle, putting together the highest-ranked group of prospects in the nation. However, this year the Tide has been lagging behind a little bit compared to how high they usually finish. Heading into this past week, they weren’t even in the top 20 of the 247Sports composite 2024 recruiting team rankings.

This cycle is far from over, though and Nick Saban’s squad is beginning to catch up with the usual contenders. They got an especially big boost on Sunday night when Alabama got a commitment from Mater Dei (Calif.) four-star cornerback Zabien Brown.

Brown (6-foot-0, 180 pounds) reportedly had offers from 18 other schools. Among the other programs that were considered contenders for his commitment were Ohio State and USC.

According to 247Sports, Brown is the fifth-best cornerback in his class, ranks No. 4 overall in the state of California and No. 45 nationally.

Asked why he picked Alabama, Brown credited his relationship with the coaches, per Hayes Fawcett at On3.

“I just felt like there was a unique opportunity being presented and I really felt at home out there… I grew a great relationship with coach T-Rob, coach Wiggins, and coach Sam Petitio… Also had great talks with coach Saban and my family and reminded me a lot of coach Rollo.”

The Crimson Tide also got a commitment from three-star German linebacker Justin Okoronkwo.

Alabama is now No. 14 in the nation in our updated national recruiting rankings for the 2024 cycle.

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2024 LB, German native Justin Okoronkwo commits to Alabama

The Alabama coaching staff left a lasting impression on 2024 linebacker Justin Okoronkwo, who committed to Alabama on Sunday over Nebraska and South Carolina.

The 2024 recruiting class received a huge boost on Sunday afternoon as linebacker Justin Okoronkwo announced his commitment to Alabama. He was previously committed to Maryland. Okoronkwo chose the Crimson Tide over Nebraska and South Carolina.

Okoronkwo received an offer from the Alabama coaching staff following his performance at a camp in early June. He ran a 4.54 40-yard dash which is relatively impressive given his size. Okoronkwo is listed at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds.

Okoronkwo is a unique recruit given that he is from Germany. He is a 19-year-old that currently plays for the Nurenburg Rams in Nuremberg, Germany.

Okoronkwo will soon conclude his senior season in Germany. In his commitment post, he stated, “I am happy to announce that I am 100% fully committed to the University of Alabama!”

Alabama now has three linebackers in the 2024 recruiting class with Sterling Dixon, Cayden Jones, and Justin Okoronkwo each having committed to the Crimson Tide.

Roll Tide Wire breaks down Justin Okoronkwo’s recruiting profile.