Alabama Football: Impact of Jamil Burroughs’ transfer

After a chaotic month of June, Alabama Football redshirt junior defensive lineman Jamil Burroughs is reported to have entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Burroughs was serving an indefinite suspension after a physical altercation on campus that involved Alabama Football Director of Player Development (and former defensive line standout) Josh Chapman.

Jamil Burroughs appeared in 20 games in his three seasons on campus, recording 15 tackles and a pair of sacks.

With Burroughs’ anticipated departure, the depth of Bama’s defensive front takes a blow, but the group should remain solid. Seniors Justin Eboigbe and Tim Smith are expected to join sophomore defensive tackle Jaheim Oatis in the starting lineup. All three are very solid and experienced players with high floors, but the Crimson Tide needs one or more of these guys to break out in 2023.

Behind this imposing trio, Burroughs was slated to be a key rotational piece. In his absence, redshirt junior Jah-Marien Latham and redshirt sophomores Damon Payne and Monkell Goodwine figure to be the beneficiaries. All three of these players received spot minutes last season, and should enjoy increased roles in 2023.

Redshirt freshman Khurtiss Perry and true freshman James Smith could also factor in. Both Perry and Smith are high-upside interior defensive linemen and former in-state recruits who were among the best in the nation at their positions.

A pair of massive redshirt sophomores, Tim Keenan III and Anquin Barnes Jr., will contribute to Bama’s depth at the nose tackle spot. Keenan III and Barnes Jr. are entering their third seasons in the program and will try to push for playing time this fall.

Three more true freshmen, Edric Hill, Jordan Renaud, and Hunter Osborne round out the defensive line depth chart. This group consists of three very promising long-term prospects, but Hill, Renaud, and Osborne are all likely redshirt candidates in 2023.

They figure to spend much of the year gaining weight and getting acclimated to the program, preparing themselves to contribute in 2024.

While Burroughs’ untimely exit does not help Alabama Football and its defensive line, the group is deep enough to absorb the blow and keep moving forward. The starting lineup remains intact, and there are plenty of quality bodies capable of filling the void.