In this day and age, you're going to have some surprise Transfer Portal entrants every offseason. It's just the nature of things.
The biggest surprise entrant for Alabama was WR Isaiah Horton. His not returning to Tuscaloosa for his senior season wasn't all that shocking, but most figured if that was going to be the case, he would be entering the NFL Draft as a projected day two pick.
Instead, Horton entered the portal, ultimately opting for Texas A&M.
The reason couldn't be more obvious, no matter what Horton had to say about it on Thursday during an Aggies spring practice.
"I believe in Coach Elko, the culture he's building here," Horton said when asked about why he chose Texas A&M. "I believe in Marcel Reed. He's a guy from my hometown, we grew up together. I believe in him with all my heart. I just believe in this program, and I believe in this culture."
Sure, man.
Isaiah Horton transferred to one of the biggest NIL spenders in college football
You really don't have to think too hard about why Horton chose Texas A&M, or why he entered the Transfer Portal to begin with.
It's his last year of eligibility to play college football, and he wanted to cash in. There's nothing wrong with that. I've never really understood the point of not just outright saying it. This is the era of mercenaries. We all get it. We might not like it, but we certainly understand that it is the nature of it.
Horton led Alabama in receiving touchdowns this past season. He recorded eight, including three in the Tide's Iron Bowl win over Auburn. The last of the three came in what ultimately proved to be the game-winner in Alabama's thrilling 27-20 win over the Tigers in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Horton could have returned to Alabama - or even entered the NFL Draft - and been remembered as a hero forever in Crimson Tide history.
Instead, he'll join Isaiah Bond as figures in Alabama history that Tide fans would just as soon forget.