The spring Transfer Portal window is officially open and will be for 10 days until April 25th. Alabama won't be as active in this window as they were a year ago, but the Crimson Tide does have a couple areas they could look to increase depth.
Kalen DeBoer was asked about the spring window on Monday after the completion of Alabama's spring practice. He talked about the Tide being selective in who they might target and Alabama's limited amount of roster space.
“I think you’re just always looking to find the right person that fits who you are as a program," said DeBoer. "Someone who can make your team better, our roster better. So we have just a couple scholarships, really, available to us. So we’ll be careful, and they’ve gotta meet all those areas that we feel good about – the culture of our team, the chemistry from within, the work that’s being put in."
“So we’ll be super careful on what we do with the portal. There are some areas where we do know if we have the right person pop up, we would take advantage of that.”
Alabama has a roster ready to contend next season. But there are a few areas where the Crimson Tide could use a body or two. They won't be star chasing. They won't be looking for a quarterback. But they could look to increase depth at a handful of places if the right guy is available. Let's take a look at which position groups might make the most sense.
Here are the position groups Alabama might target in the spring Transfer Portal window
3. Defensive Line
Alabama has plenty of depth at the Bandit position. LT Overton has All-American potential, Florida transfer Kelby Collins is a proven SEC contributor, and both Jordan Renaud and Keon Keeley are oozing talent. But on the interior of the line, if the right guy was available, Alabama could use a little more proven depth.
It won't be easy to find that guy, however, as both Tim Keenan III and James Smith are entrenched in starting positions. If someone else came in, they'd have to be comfortable with a depth role. Alabama has talent behind those two guys but almost zero experience. Collins has bounced between defensive tackle and Bandit during the spring to help.
Edric Hill and Jeremiah Beaman have plenty of talent, but they'll have to prove it on the field. JUCO transfer Steve Mboumoua could be a big help up front if he can pick things up quickly enough.
2. Offensive Tackle
This is another position that won't be easy to find a body at, considering Kadyn Proctor and Wilkin Formby feel like obvious starters at tackle. Proctor is a two-year starter and a potential All-American candidate at left tackle. Formby started two games last season, and while he struggled, DeBoer has been extremely complimentary of his growth this spring.
The big issue is that behind those two guys is a lot of unproven depth. Alabama will be counting on freshmen Jackson Lloyd and Michael Carroll if there's an injury. Olaus Alinen made the move from guard to tackle to give the Tide an additional body. Ball State transfer Arkel Anugwom has some experience, but he's raw for this level and is considered a prospect that Alabama hopes to not have to call on this season for meaningful snaps.
If there's a tackle available, one who might be comfortable in a swing tackle type of role this season and then able to compete for a starting role next season, Alabama is likely to be in contact.
1. Tight End
Alabama's tight end room was decimated by injury this spring. By the end of it, redshirt freshman Jay Lindsay was the scholarship option remaining. Danny Lewis Jr., Josh Cuevas, and Marshall Pritchett were all out with injuries. It remains to be seen if Pritchett will be ready by fall camp, while the others should be good to go.
Alabama will get some reinforcements in the summer with freshman Kaleb Edwards enrolling. But there's a significant lack of depth at the position, and this spring was an obvious example of injuries piling up to the point Alabama had to play a tackle at tight end just to have the bodies to practice.
I expect DeBoer and company to kick the tires on any available tight ends over the next couple of weeks to try and add some depth at a position that sorely needs it.