Kalen DeBoer and Alabama football faced several challenges as the winter Transfer Portal window opened, but they made a strong response on Tuesday with some significant portal moves.
While Alabama has seen more players leaving the program than joining through the portal, this was largely expected. The Crimson Tide, with a full roster after their signing class, needed to shed players to stay within the scholarship limit.
Although 15 Alabama players entering the portal may seem alarming, most departures have been depth players rather than key contributors for the upcoming season.
Running back Justice Haynes, who shared starting duties with Jam Miller, entered the portal, but Alabama still boasts strong depth at the position. Miller is set to return, along with Richard Young, Daniel Hill, and Kevin Riley. Additionally, Alabama secured the No. 2 running back in the 2025 class, AK Dear.
One notable departure was cornerback DeVonta Smith, a season-long starter who transferred to Notre Dame. While surprising, Alabama has a wealth of young talent in the secondary, both on the current roster and arriving soon.
The most unexpected portal news came when Jaylen Mbakwe, a former 5-star recruit from Alabama, entered the portal amid seven-figure NIL offers from other programs. However, the team rallied, and Mbakwe announced on Tuesday that he would remain in Tuscaloosa.
Mbakwe is the second player that DeBoer and the coaching staff convinced to stay, following tight end Danny Lewis Jr. Lewis is expected to play a significant role next season with CJ Dippre and Robbie Ouzts graduating. These efforts underscore the importance of re-recruiting key players already on the roster.
While Alabama remains selective with portal additions, they made a splash by landing Florida defensive lineman Kelby Collins. An Alabama native, Collins had an impressive freshman season but saw reduced action after a position change as a sophomore.
Collins is set to play as a Bandit in Kane Wommack’s system, filling the role of departing senior Jah-Marien Latham. His impact will grow if LT Overton opts for the NFL Draft, but if Overton returns, the duo would form a dominant pairing at the position.
Collins is Alabama’s first portal addition this cycle, but more commitments are expected. Though DeBoer isn’t building the roster primarily through the portal like Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss or Hugh Freeze at Auburn, the staff is focused on strategic upgrades that align with the system. Tuesday’s moves were a clear signal that Alabama is ready to counter the challenges of the portal with precision and purpose.
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