Tag: King Mwikuta

Former Alabama LB transferring to play for Deion Sanders at Jackson State

Former Alabama linebacker King Mwikuta has transferred to Jackson State.

Former Alabama outside linebacker King Mwikuta is transferring to Jackson State. The news was first reported by On3’s Matt Zenitz. Mwikuta has now transferred twice over the course of his college career.

The native of West Point, Georgia spent three seasons in Tuscaloosa. He originally signed as a part of the Tide’s 2019 recruiting class. He was regarded as a four-star, according to 247Sports. Mwikuta chose Alabama over other programs like Georgia, Auburn, and Miami.

In his three seasons in Tuscaloosa, Mwikuta played primarily on special teams. Alabama fans might recall him recovering a blocked punt in the endzone for a touchdown in Alabama’s matchup with Texas A&M last season. His work as an outside linebacker was very limited as he recorded six tackles and one tackle for loss.

After transferring this past offseason, he announced that he was transferring to Arkansas State. Soon after, he re-entered the transfer portal. Now, he is headed to Jackson State to play for Deion “Primetime” Sanders. This is an interesting move for Mwikuta. He will certainly have the opportunity to see playing time for a program that is headed in the right direction. The Tigers are fresh off of a 59-3 victory over Florida A&M.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Mwikuta’s career as well as other Alabama transfers.

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Former Alabama LB King Mwikuta re-enters transfer portal

Former Alabama LB King Mwikuta has entered the transfer portal for a third time. He spent three seasons with the Crimson Tide.

Alabama has seen its share of additions and losses to its roster over the years thanks to the NCAA transfer portal. One of those players is former Alabama linebacker King Mwikuta, who transferred to Arkansas State before the start of the 2022 season. The native of West Point, Georgia re-entered the transfer portal again on Friday, according to Chris Hummer.

This will be the third time that Mwikuta has entered the transfer portal in his college career. He entered the transfer portal in June of 2021 but withdrew his name from the transfer portal just days later. Then, he decided to enter the transfer portal again after the conclusion of the 2021 season. This time Mwikuta went through with it and landed at Arkansas State.

However, he spent just six months with the program before reports circulated that he was off the team. The report was confirmed on Twitter by Region 8 News Sports Anchor Logan Whaley. Since then, he has re-entered the transfer portal for the third time.

In his career at Alabama, he recorded six tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in 35 games. He was primarily used on special teams for the Crimson Tide. One of his most memorable moments at Alabama was when he recovered a blocked punt against Texas A&M for a touchdown. As it stands, he is looking for a third destination for his senior season. He still has two years of eligibility remaining if he chooses to use the extra COVID year.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Mwikuta’s career as well as other former Alabama players that have transferred elsewhere.

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Former Alabama LB King Mwikuta announces transfer destination

Not a long journey through the transfer portal for King.

Alabama linebacker King Mwikuta was one of numerous Crimson Tide players to enter their names in the NCAA transfer portal. Today, Mwikuta announced that he will be joining former Alabama analyst Butch Jones at Arkansas State to continue playing football.

Mwikuta had a relatively small role in his three years with the Crimson Tide program. He tallied six tackles and no other recorded stats.

As a recruit in 2019, he was rated as a four-star line backer and held offers from Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Miami and others.

The announcement was shared to Mwikuta’s Twitter through an intense video that ended with him wearing his new Arkansas State gear.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on Twitter @SpurrFM.

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.

Grading Alabama’s performance in loss to the Texas A&M Aggies

Grading Alabama’s performance after a tough loss to the Texas A&M Aggies.

Kyle Field became a sea of humans after the Texas A&M Aggies defeated the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide on a last-second field goal.

Alabama came out flat-footed on defense and the Aggies took it to them for most of the first half. Nick Saban and Alabama were able to regroup at the half and came out and owned the majority of the second half. But it was all for not, as the Aggies made the plays when it mattered and came out victorious.

Each week we grade all three phases of the game for the Tide, this week should be interesting. Let’s get started.

OFFENSE: B-

Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

The Alabama offense was really told the story of the game. Bryce Young and the offense were able to move the ball up and down the field for the better part of three quarters, but could not seem to finish off drives.

Alabama racked up 522 yards of total offense with 369 coming through the air and an additional 153 on the ground.

But it was Alabama’s unwillingness to run behind Brian Robinson Jr. inside of the ten-yard line that cost Alabama several points in the contest.

Outside of Young, Robinson, and Jameson Williams, it was a fairly inconsistent performance for the Alabama offense, including offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.

DEFENSE: C-

(AP Photo/Sam Craft)

The only thing the Alabama defense is consistent at is being inconsistent. Each week we see players out of position, missing tackles, or playing with bad technique.

It is simply not acceptable for the Alabama defense to perform at this level with the amount of talent on that side of the ball.

Sure, they played solid for most of the second half, but when they needed a stop to preserve a win, they folded.

It is time for Pete Golding to get this corrected. Alabama deserves a better defensive performance than what has been delivered.

SPECIAL TEAMS B-

Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

Will Reichard continues to be a weapon for the Crimson Tide. Reichard connected on all three extra-point attempts and also connected on all three of his field-goal attempts.

Wide receiver Jacorey Brooks was able to block a punt in the second half and linebacker King Mwikuta was able to recover it in the endzone for a touchdown, but on the issuing kickoff, Texas A&M blew past the Alabama kick coverage for a touchdown.

Like the rest of the Tide, special teams consistency is needed.

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

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on Twitter @Blackwood89

Could another Alabama transfer LB be hinting at a transfer to Texas?

King Mwikuta is a hot name in the transfer portal.

Texas may be in the market for another transfer on the defensive side of the ball after Alabama linebacker King Mwikuta entered his name into the transfer portal.

Mwikuta is a former four-star prospect out of West Point, Georgia, that has yet to reach his ceiling as a college player. He chose Alabama over Georgia, Florida and Auburn — among others.

While at Alabama, Mwikuta saw a majority of his snaps on special teams, which could work in favor for the Longhorns; he is familiar with new special teams coordinator Jeff Banks.

Rivals’ Mike Farrell pinpointed three teams as potential landing spots for Mwikuta, with Texas having the slight advantage over Kentucky and Auburn. The Longhorns have taken in some linebackers that greatly improved their depth, but they are still inexperienced at the position, which is dominated by freshmen and sophomores who have yet to receive major playing time all over the depth chart.

One Texas fan also noticed something very interesting on Mwikuta’s Instagram. The only post remaining on his account is a picture of him next to Steve Sarkisian.

Farrell believes his connection with former Alabama staffers will draw him to Austin, but noted that Auburn was recruiting Mwikuta extremely hard in high school even after his commitment to Alabama.

Alabama football countdown: 30 days until kickoff

We are 30 days from Alabama football kicking off its season on the road against the Missouri Tigers to start a 10-game, SEC only schedule.

There has been a lot of uncertainty surrounding college football over the last couple of weeks, but as of right now, the season still looks like it’s a go for the SEC, ACC and Big 12.

So, what does that mean? It means that we can continue the Countdown to Kickoff en route to the Crimson Tide — and the rest of the SEC — getting things underway on Sept. 26.

With it now being Aug. 27, we are officially 30 days away from the start!

Sophomore outside linebacker King Mwikuta currently wears the No. 30 for Alabama. Prior to Mwikuta, the number has worn by several former standout linebackers, including Mack Wilson (2016-18) and Dont’a Hightower (2008-11).

Alabama linebacker Mack Wilson (30) against Auburn in first half action during the Iron Bowl at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday November 24, 2018. Mickey Welsh / Montgomery Advertiser

2020 Alabama football schedule

  • Sept. 26 at Missouri (Columbia, Mizz.)
  • Oct. 3 vs. Texas A&M (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
  • Oct. 10 at Ole Miss (Oxford, Miss.)
  • Oct. 17 vs. Georgia (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
  • Oct. 24 at Tennessee (Knoxville, Tenn.)
  • Oct. 31 vs. Miss State (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
  • Nov. 14 at LSU (Baton Rouge, La.)
  • No. 21 vs. Kentucky (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
  • Nov. 28 vs. Auburn (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
  • Dec. 5 at Arkansas (Fayetteville, Ark.)

Stay tuned for more updates from Roll Tide Wire, part of the USA TODAY Sports College Wire network!

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Alabama player snapshot: No. 30 King Mwikuta

Sophomore OLB King Mwikuta is the next man up on Alabama football’s player snapshot, which highlights each scholarship player.

As we continue through the offseason, Roll Tide Wire has decided to bring fans a quick snapshot of each scholarship player listed on Alabama’s 2020 football roster.

Each day, we’ll release two player profiles giving fans a glimpse into the players who will be available this upcoming season. Whether that’s size, classification, hometowns or recruiting rankings coming out of high school, we’ve got you covered.

Also included in each article is a quick recap letting you know what to expect from that player for the upcoming 2020 season and beyond.

Next up on the list is sophomore outside linebacker King Mwikuta out of West Point (Ga.).

King Mwikuta, Outside Linebacker

Bryant-Denny Stadium
May 21, 2020; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; A general view at the main entrance of Bryant-Denny Stadium announcing the remodel underway. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Height: 6-5 / Weight: 243

Class: Sophomore

Hometown: West Point (Ga.)

High School: Troup County High School

HS ranking (247Sports): 4-star / No. 158 overall / No. 9 WDE / No. 21 GA

HS ranking (Rivals): 4-star / No. 227 overall / No. 13 OLB / No. 25 GA

Analysis: Alabama needs as much experience at outside linebacker as it can get with the departures of Terrell Lewis and Anfernee Jennings. And while he only played in 10 games as a reserve player and on special teams, Mwikuta brings some of that needed experience when compared to other newcomers on the roster.

At 6-foot-5, 243 pounds, he’s the heaviest outside linebacker not named Christopher Allen on the team, and the hope is that size will help him continue to be come a more complete edge presence — providing more consistency on early downs when stopping the run.

As a pass rusher, Mwikuta brings some explosiveness off the snap to go with above-average bend, which is a good combination when trying to get after the quarterback.

Expect the Georgia native to compete for a starting job opposite Allen while also maintaining an important role on special teams like he did in 2019.

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