3 biggest gets for Alabama in the transfer portal

Kalen DeBoer was put behind the eight ball upon arrival in Tuscaloosa. Not because he’s talking into a bad situation, but because the transfer portal feeding frenzy was already done and for the most part only a few scraps were left.  

Typically a great coach like DeBoer has a flourishing field of talent, grown at their last stop, and ripe for the picking, but most of Washington’s best players had already left for the NFL, so as 30 players fled the Alabama program, he could only pull in six replacements. 

Alabama’s roster is still loaded with talent that Nick Saban had stockpiled for a rainy day and DeBoer was able to bring three players with him from Seattle. It’s not enough to offset the losses of Caleb Down, Trey Amos, Isaiah Bond, Amari Niblack, Kadyn Proctor, and Julian Sayin, but of the six incoming transfers, these three will help the Crimson Tide compete in a loaded SEC next season. 

Alabama had offensive line problems at the beginning of 2023, but the line developed into a strength by the end of the year. It was one of the biggest reasons that the Crimson Tide beat Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. However, center Seth McLaughlin transferred to Ohio State, and Proctor moved on to Iowa, JC Latham declared for the NFL draft, so three of five starters will be gone, but with Brailsford, the line will have an anchor. 

As a freshman, Brailsford allowed just 11 pressures and one sack as the center for the Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line at Washington. With left guard Tyler Booker and right guard Jaeden Roberts returning, Alabama is set on the interior. 

DeBoer will need to find an answer at the tackle spots, but Jalen Milroe will love playing behind Brailsford. DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb are known for their deep passing attack, but the run game might thrive the most in Year 1 with this offensive line.