Alabama football lands third Transfer Portal addition of the day with star Big 12 LB

Colorado All-Big 12 LB Nikhai Hill-Green committed to Alabama football on Saturday, marking the third Transfer Portal addition of the day and capping off a big weekend for the Crimson Tide.

Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green (41) against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green (41) against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Alabama football came into the day zeroing in on three Transfer Portal targets. At the end of the day, they landed commitments from all three.

Earlier, both Texas A&M OL Kam Dewberry and Miami (FL) WR Isaiah Horton announced their pledges to the Crimson Tide. A little bit later, Colorado LB Nikhai Hill-Green did the same.

Hill-Green had 80 tackles, 12 TFL, 2 sacks, and 2 interceptions for Colorado this season, earning All-Big 12 2nd-team honors in his lone season in Boulder. Hill-Green started his career at Michigan before transferring to Charlotte and ultimately winding up with Deion Sanders at Colorado.

Hill-Green brings valuable experience to Tuscaloosa with him. He has over 200 career tackles and played major roles the last three seasons for Michigan, Charlotte, and then Colorado.

With Jihaad Campbell likely entering the NFL Draft and Justin Jefferson exhausting his eligibility, Alabama had a big need for experience at the LB position for 2025. Deontae Lawson's status for next season is up in the air following his season-ending injury in the loss to Oklahoma.

Most assumed Lawson was surely going pro, but his injury could cause him to return to Tuscaloosa next season. If he does, he and Hill-Green would make up a strong LB duo in the middle of Kane Wommack's defense. If Lawson leaves, then I would expect either veteran LB Jeremiah Alexander or rising sophomore Justin Okoronkwo to compete for the job next to Hill-Green.

Alabama has now landed five commitments in the Transfer Portal after a slow start. Each guy looks like a potential upgrade in their respective position grouping. Kalen DeBoer and company have done a good job targeting the right guys thus far and likely aren't done.

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