With five days left in the transfer portal window, Kalen DeBoer hasn’t struck out yet, but he'd better choke up on the bat after missing out on Cam Coleman and losing Hollywood Smoothers to Texas on Sunday.
After suffering those blows in the portal and seemingly getting stuffed in a locker by the Longhorns, it’s time for DeBoer and his general manager, Courtney Morgan, to pivot. While most of the best pass catchers have found homes in the portal, there are still talented players up for grabs.
It’s not a necessity for Alabama to land just any wide receiver. With Ryan Williams coming back for his junior year and Lotzeir Brooks poised to step into a larger role as a sophomore, either Austin Mack or Keelon Russell should have reliable targets in Ryan Grubb’s offense. However, Isaiah Horton’s departure through the portal after just one season in Tuscaloosa means the Tide need a big-bodied X-receiver to fill the role that he and Germie Bernard are vacating.
That player was supposed to be Coleman. But, now that Texas had outbid the Tide, DeBoer and Morgan must add one of these three available transfers to the roster.
1. Noah Rogers, WR, NC State, Redshirt Junior
Rogers is the obvious pivot for Alabama fans to turn their attention to. He visited Tuscaloosa this weekend and could be close to reaching a deal with the team. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound rising redshirt junior surpassed 30 catches and 450 yards in each of his two years in Raleigh after redshirting at Ohio State in 2023.
More than an explosive contested catch winner like Horton, Rogers would come closer to filling the Bernard role as a volume pass-catcher with sure hands and a physical nature after the catch. Pretty much any addition at this point would put Williams into the role of WR1, but Rogers could handle the target-share to keep pressure off Williams after he struggled with drops in 2025.
2. Quincy Porter - Ohio State
The 2025 five-star caught just four passes while redshirting at Ohio State this season, so adding Porter would be pure projection. Still, it’s worth the risk with a player of his caliber. At 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, Porter can be a true X, winning one-on-one as a separator and dominating at the catch point. His high school tape is remarkable, and it's hard to ding a young player for not surpassing Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate on the depth chart.
3. Ja’Cory Thomas - Old Dominion
The former JUCO transfer was an immediate big-play threat in his lone year at Old Dominion. At 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, the Walker, Louisiana native has field-stretching speed and excellent hands. He caught 41 passes for 719 yards and five touchdowns in 2025, with seven receptions on throws over 20 yards downfield for 272 yards and two TDs. He also finished the season 9 for 17 on contest catch opportunities.