Not all NIL money is created equally. Every team has had buyer's remorse since name, image, and likeness came into college football in the summer of 2021.
But with the busts also come the booms. And Alabama football has certainly had some booms over the years.
While under Nick Saban and into the Kalen DeBoer era, the Crimson Tide has still preferred organic growth from high school recruiting and roster retention as priority number one, but strategic use of the Transfer Portal is pivotal in this era of college football.
And these three players were an effective use of the portal and were worth all the NIL dollars.
3. WR Germie Bernard
The most important transfer of the Kalen DeBoer era to date, Germie Bernard joined DeBoer in making the trek from Seattle to Tuscaloosa in 2024.
Bernard was a key depth piece for the Huskies in 2023 when they went to the National Championship Game, and then became Alabama's No. 1 WR in his two seasons with the team. He produced 1656 receiving yards and nine touchdowns for the Crimson Tide before becoming a 2nd Round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
2. RB Jahmyr Gibbs
Before he was taking the NFL by storm with the Detroit Lions, Jahmyr Gibbs was an electric college RB at Georgia Tech and then Alabama.
Nick Saban landed Gibbs out of the Transfer Portal heading into the 2022 season, and he had one dynamite season in Tuscaloosa before becoming the 12th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Alabama didn't make the playoff in his one season with the Crimson Tide, thanks to a couple of close losses in Knoxville and Baton Rouge, but Gibbs produced 1366 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns. Those numbers should've been higher, and Alabama fans still hold a grudge toward former OC Bill O'Brien for Gibbs' usage.
Gibbs was a big-play waiting to happen with the Crimson Tide, something that hasn't changed at the next level with the Lions.
1. WR Jameson Williams
Speaking of big play threats in Detroit, before Jameson Williams became one of the most electric WRs in the NFL, he was becoming a 1st Team All-American during his lone season at Alabama.
Williams transferred to Alabama from Ohio State and instantly became one of the best players in college football, forming a quick rapport with Bryce Young and terrorizing defenses. Williams put up 1572 yards and 15 touchdowns as a receiver during the 2021 season, while adding a pair of touchdowns on kickoff returns.
Williams lit up Georgia in the 2021 SEC Championship Game, producing 184 yards and two touchdowns on seven receptions. In a rematch for the National Championship, Jamo was well on his way to doing it again with 65 yards on four catches early, but went down with a torn ACL in the 2nd quarter that ultimately cost Saban and the Crimson Tide the title.
A year before Gibbs, Williams was the 12th overall pick by the Lions, too, after a sensational season at Alabama.
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