Alabama Football: Transfer Portal ratings for SEC West teams

No surprise to Alabama Football fans, but Nick Saban quickly learned how to take maximum advantage of the Transfer Portal. The Alabama Crimson Tide had several roster subtractions via the Portal. The players leaving included some very good football players but as always Nick Saban has to make room for even better players.

Previously we offered a review of SEC East teams. In this and the previous post, we relied upon the Top 150 Transfer Portal players as defined by 247Sports. The source is a wealth of information, from their tracking of over 2,500 players who have used the Portal this cycle.

There are still a few available players, though any who added themselves after July 1 do not qualify for the NCAA one-time, immediate eligibility offer.

Two things have become evident with the evolution and explosion of the Transfer Portal. One is coaches can never take a break from roster management. It is a year-round process and in some ways, top transfer players are more valuable than elite recruits. With the transfers, much more data is available for consideration. This leads to the second piece of clarity – the rich will get richer by using the Portal.

The college football world should not be surprised Nick Saban has already mastered the process. In the 2021 recruiting cycle, Alabama Football loaded up on wide receiver talent. The class will make an impact at the position. But, the new Crimson Tide wide receiver, who will probably make the most impact this season, is Ohio State transfer, Jameson Williams.

Rating Alabama Football Transfers and other SEC West teams

Keep in mind by using the 247Sports Top 150 transfers, players outside the Top 150 are not used to make our conclusions.

LSU Bengal Tigers – Big Portal Loser

Ed Orgeron lost five players in the top 61 players of the Top 150, plus two others. No. 3 Arik Gilbert to Georgia and  No. 38, Dare Rosenthal to Kentucky were major losses. On the plus side, LSU added a probable starter at linebacker in No. 5, Mike Jones from Clemson. With two Top 150 players coming in and seven leaving, LSU flunked the Portal test.

Auburn Tigers – Portal Loser

At No. 28, Deshun Miller, cornerback from West Virginia will help the Tigers. The next highest-rated addition, No. 61, quarterback, T.J. Finley, is perhaps good insurance, but unless Bo Nix is hurt, nothing more. The No. 77 player, safety Donovan Kaufman from Vanderbilt could help. The unrealized potential of No. 127 wide receiver, Demetris Robertson (from Georgia) might be reached at Auburn. The other three incoming players are not expected to make significant impacts.

The exiting players create a problem for the Tigers. On the defensive line, No. 87, Big Kat Bryant moved to UCF and No. 45, Daquan Newkirk left for Florida. Also leaving are No. 68, wide receiver, Hal Presley (to Baylor), No. 79, running back, D.J. Williams (to FSU) and No. 84, defensive back, Chris Thompson to USC.

Arkansas Razorbacks – Small Portal Winner

The Hogs added No. 141, offensive lineman, Ty’kieast Crawford from Charlotte and No. 147, defensive lineman, John Ridgeway from Illinois State.

Texas A&M Aggies – Small Portal Winner

Jimbo Fisher added No. 56, offensive lineman, Jahmir Johnson from Tennessee. The Aggies lost No. 100 Dylan Wright and No. 18, Shadrach Banks. No. 134 Elijah Blades is in the Portal with no new team.

Ole Miss Rebels – Small Portal Winner

Lane Kiffin added No. 59, linebacker, Chance Campbell from Maryland and No. 128, offensive lineman, Orlando Umana from Utah. Leaving Ole Miss is No. 98, linebacker, Jacquez Jones to Kentucky.

Mississippi State Bulldogs – Portal Winner

Mike Leach added No. 50, defensive end, Randy Charlton from UCF and No. 78, cornerback, Jalen Green from Texas.

Alabama Football – Big Portal Winner

Among the Top 150, the Crimson Tide lost No. 70, Keilan Robinson to Texas; No. 73, Ishmael Sopsher to USC; No. 122 King Mwikuta (uncommitted) and No. 138 Brandon Turnanage to Tennessee.

Nick Saban slam-dunked the Portal by adding the aforementioned, No. 23 Jameson Williams and No. 1 Henry To’o To’o.

One more post in this series will drill down on Miami to see if transfers make them a bigger threat to the Crimson Tide. We’ll also look at Portal results from some top CFB Playoff contenders.