Alabama Football: Former 5-star enters transfer portal

Alabama football will be losing a former 5-star recruit.

Alabama football is used to losing top-level talent every offseason. However, they usually lose talent from the transfer portal. On Monday, they learned that they are losing a former 5-star recruit. Linebacker Ben Davis announced that he has entered the transfer portal. 

Davis was the top-rated inside linebacker in the 2016 recruiting class. He was the 10th overall prospect in the class, and it was a big deal for Alabama to sign him. However, things haven’t panned out in his Alabama football career.

Davis was redshirted in his first year. He became an outside linebacker, but he never found his footing. He was buried on the depth chart behind players like Christian Miller, Anfernee Jennings and Terrell Lewis.

2020 was supposed to be his time to shine. Instead, he lost the starting job to a true freshman. However, he knew that he would have another year of eligibility due to the NCAA’s COVID-19 protocols. With Chris Allen returning for another year as well, there is no chance for Davis to expand his role in 2021.

If anything, Davis was going to lose more reserve reps as Drew Sanders grew as a pass rusher. With one more year to prove himself to NFL scouts, Davis decided that it would be best for him to find a new team.

Ben Davis came into college with all sorts of potential, but he is not the first Alabama football player not to pan out. On offense, Blake Barnett transferred to multiple schools after leaving the Crimson Tide. Defensively, players like Eyabi Anoma and Antonio Alfano transferred before living up to the hype. The difference is that they left early in their collegiate careers. Ben Davis gave his all for the Tide before transferring in his sixth year of college.

Davis has not chosen his next team, but he will likely be highly recruited. He was buried behind talented players and learned from some of the best coaches in college football. No matter where he goes, Alabama football fans will support him as he looks to prove himself to NFL teams.