Alabama football has taken a lot of hits in the Transfer Portal, most of which were not unexpected. The Crimson Tide's current roster sits at 82, just three under the 85-man limit. If Alabama wanted to add anyone in the Transfer Portal, they were also going to have to lose a lot more than they gained.
Tuesday brought some good news in the portal as Kalen DeBoer and company coaxed former 5-star CB Jaylen Mbakwe out of the portal and then landed the signature of its first commitment in Florida DL Kelby Collins.
Collins won't be the last commitment for the Crimson Tide in this portal cycle. And there still could be more entries to come from the current roster. DeBoer is looking to flip the roster a bit to get guys in here who better fit his system and what he wants to do.
So far, in terms of major contributors, Alabama has only lost RB Justice Haynes and DB DeVonta Smith. Haynes was stuck in an RB-by-committee situation and Smith, while talented himself, was probably going to be fighting for his job with the amount of young talent in the Tide's secondary.
With Alabama now on the board in the portal and successfully re-recruiting two of its own players out of the portal, let's take a look at the remaining positions of need and current targets:
Alabama's Transfer Portal Targets
Wide Receiver:
Alabama has seen four wide receivers enter the Transfer Portal in Kobe Prentice, Kendrick Law, Caleb Odom, and Emmanuel Henderson. The departures leaves Alabama with minimal depth for the ReliaQuest Bowl against Michigan, but it isn't mission-critical to land a receiver out of the portal.
As long as nobody else leaves, Alabama will enter next season with Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard, its top receivers, back in the fold. Add in the injury returns of Jalen Hale and Cole Adams, as well as freshmen Rico Scott, Amari Jefferson, and Jaren Hamilton to go along with 2025 signees Derek Meadows and Lotzeir Brooks, and Alabama will have plenty of depth at the position for next season regardless.
There's also the potential that Jaylen Mbakwe switches to receiver, which seems to be the impetus for him initially going into the portal to begin with. Alabama was kicking the tires on several receivers, but it remains to be seen if the situation with Mbakwe changes anything.
If Alabama takes a receiver in the portal, the player it seems to be trending toward is Miami WR Isaiah Horton. Horton is a big-bodied receiver at 6-foot-4 who would be a nice compliment to Williams and Bernard. He caught 56 passes for 616 yards and five touchdowns this year for the 'Canes.
Alabama has also hosted NC State WR Kevin Concepcion on an official visit. The former ACC freshman of the year is still taking visits and has a lot of options. The staff seems to prefer Horton, and I don't think the Tide will take two receivers in the portal this cycle, making Concepcion likely to end up elsewhere.
Offensive Line:
Alabama would like to add some depth on its offensive line. Parker Brailsford's return means the Tide is likely to bring back four of its five starters from this season with Tyler Booker the only expected departure as an early-entrant in the NFL Draft.
But adding some competition to the room would be a good thing as the bulk of Alabama's current reserves are first and second-year players and the jury remains out on their ability to play at this level.
At this point, Alabama has been linked to two offensive linemen: Washington's Kahlee Tafai and Texas A&M's Kam Dewberry.
Both players are being targeted as interior offensive linemen and would likely factor into the vacant LG battle. Alabama hasn't been linked to anyone at tackle thus far, which is a bit of a surprise. Right tackle was the weak spot on the Tide's offensive line this season with both Elijah Pritchett and Wilkin Formby struggling throughout the season.
Both players have flashed enough that it wouldn't be a total shock if the staff was comfortable moving forward with them at the position in hopes that their continued development will lock down that side of the line.
Defensive Line:
Alabama might not be done on the defensive line even after adding Kelby Collins. The Tide will for sure be losing seniors Tim Smith and Jah-Marien Latham to go along with Damon Payne who entered the Transfer Portal.
Alabama could also lose Tim Keenan (he went through Senior Day ceremonies) and LT Overton to the NFL Draft.
Collins was brought in as a Bandit, the same position that Overton and Latham played in 2024. James Smith is poised to take over as the full-time defensive tackle, but if Keenan goes pro, Alabama could have a big void at the nose tackle spot.
Unless the plan is to get Smith to bulk up a little bit more, there might not be a true nose on the roster. Two guys in the 2025 signing class - JUCO transfer Steve Mboummoua and London Simmons - could project there, but both are unproven.
As of now, the only DL Alabama has been linked to is Texas A&M's Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, who would seemingly be a perfect fit for the position of need.
Alabama's last Texas A&M DL transfer (Overton) worked out pretty well, so dipping back into that well makes sense.
Linebacker:
Alabama could have a pretty significant void at LB depending on the NFL Draft decision of Deontae Lawson. He seemed surely gone most of the season until he suffered a devastating knee injury against Oklahoma in late November. He might not be able to do much in workouts or at the NFL combine, which could cause him to return to school for an extra year.
Regardless, Alabama is losing senior Justin Jefferson for sure, and junior Jihaad Campbell might be the top LB prospect in the 2025 class and is likely to turn pro.
Alabama signed a lot of linebackers in the last two recruiting cycles in anticipation of a big changeover at the position this offseason, but that's a lot of inexperience to count on at a crucial position. The staff is high on Justin Okoronkwo and Jeremiah Alexander will be in his fourth year in the program next year and has been a primary backup the last two years, but I would be surprised if the staff stands pat here.
The Tide has been linked to Colorado's Nikhai Hill-Green, who is coming off an All-Big 12 season for the Buffaloes. Hill-Green previously played at both Charlotte and Michigan before going to Boulder for this season, and has three years of starting experience and would bring a wealth of knowledge with him to what will otherwise be a young LB room in Tuscaloosa.
If Lawson returns, I would think Hill-Green coming is unlikely. If Lawson chooses to turn pro, then DeBoer and company will turn up the heat on him and others.
Cornerback:
Corner didn't seem like a position of need until the rumors started flying about Mbakwe's potential transfer and then position change. A lot here will depend on Domani Jackson's NFL Draft decision. If he comes back, I find it hard to believe Alabama will be able to attract anyone of note in the portal at corner due to the competition already in the room.
Freshman Zabien Brown had an outstanding first season and will be a starter again in 2025. If Jackson returns, the only competition would be at the Husky (slot corner) position, and Wake Forest transfer DaShawn Jones and freshman Red Morgan have experience at the position and will be tough to beat out.
There's also freshman Zay Mincey who saw a lot of snaps this year, and incoming freshmen corners Dijon Lee and Chuck McDonald.
Thus far, Alabama has only been linked to Utah's Cameron Calhoun, a freshman this year who played a lot in the Utes' secondary and has the potential to be a really good player.
Even if Jackson goes pro, it's probably going to be difficult for Alabama to attract high-end talent at corner from the portal. If they get anyone, I'd expect it to be a player like Calhoun - a younger guy with a lot of upside.