Perhaps frustratingly to Alabama fans, Kalen DeBoer and GM Courtney Morgan have been more focused on high school recruiting and retention to build the Crimson Tide's roster instead of the Transfer Portal.
Alabama has added some talent in the portal, contrary to what some may want to believe, but there's also been some head-scratching misses that have been undeniably frustrating for fans.
All we can do is trust the process, which is much easier said than done.
The 3 biggest Transfer Portal misses for Alabama so far
1. RB Hollywood Smothers, NC State
There's been no bigger - or more deflating - miss than NC State RB Hollywood Smothers. That's because Alabama seemingly had the ACC's leading rusher in yards per game this season in the bag. Smothers committed to the Crimson Tide on a visit to Tuscaloosa, giving DeBoer and company a difference-making veteran RB that was sorely needed.
But Smothers never signed with Alabama. The following weekend, he took a visit to Texas and flipped his commitment to the Longhorns, leaving the Crimson Tide at the altar.
Alabama will pursue other running backs, but there's nobody left in the portal who would have been as impactful as the NC State transfer.
2. WR Cam Coleman, Auburn
Just about a half hour before Smothers flipped, star Auburn WR Cam Coleman announced his commitment to Texas over Alabama. Coleman was fresh off a two-day visit to Tuscaloosa, where optimism was building that the Crimson Tide had a legitimate shot at landing him.
As frustrating as Coleman's decision was, the Auburn transfer was a luxury addition for the Crimson Tide. WR was far from one of Alabama's biggest needs, even after Isaiah Horton's decision to enter the Transfer Portal.
The frustrating part, however, is that it doesn't appear Alabama had much of a chance. They weren't going to get into a bidding war for Coleman, so it's fair to question why they even bothered wasting their time.
3. OT Jacarrius Peak, NC State
This one is hard to blame on the staff, but with Alabama's offensive line needs, NC State transfer Jacarrius Peak, an All-ACC honorable mention OT this season, would have been a major addition.
Unfortunately, Peak never made it to Tuscaloosa for his scheduled visit. Instead, he committed and signed with South Carolina while on his visit to Columbia.
Alabama has still landed two impact players on the offensive line in Michigan transfers Kaden Strayhorn and Ty Haywood, but Peak is the proven offensive lineman that could have been a day one starter for the Crimson Tide at LT, protecting the blindside of Austin Mack or Keelon Russell.