After transfer exodus and transfer additions '24 Alabama Football roster better than '23

Much of the college football world is yet to understand the talent level of the Alabama Crimson Tide 2024 roster. Alabama football fans already see what many others don't. The Crimson Tide in 2024 is more talented than it was in 2023.

Proof of the above claim can only come throughout an entire season. But with each passing week it will become more and more obvious the 2024 Alabama roster is second to none.

The story was legitimately different in January. The transfer exodus that began in January and continued through the spring saw 39 Alabama players (scholarship and walk-on) enter the Transfer Portal. Almost all of them were snatched up by other teams. The biggest beneficiaries of landing Nick Saban's former players were Florida State, Ohio State, and Texas.

The Crimson Tide did lose some outstanding talent. The biggest loss was Caleb Downs to Ohio State, followed by Iasiah Bond and Amari Niblack to Texas, and 2024, 5-star signee, quarterback, Julian Sayin to Ohio State.

Adding to the large number of exits were 11 Alabama players moving on with their NFL dreams. What Kalen DeBoer began with was a roster almost cut in half. First, DeBoer and his staff did an outstanding job re-recruiting Alabama's 2024 Signing Class, which finished at No. 2 in national rankings. DeBoer also added 14, scholarship transfers, many of whom were immediately seen as upgrades in their position group.

Where Alabama is now is at the beginning stage of how the 2024 roster will blossom. So many key players have either limited college starting experience or none (the true freshmen) that Alabama in November and beyond will be a better team than it is in September.

No weak Alabama Crimson Tide Position Groups

More good news is Alabama fans don't have to wait until the second half of the season to celebrate the roster. Just one game into the 2024 season a BOLD claim can be made. Alabama will not miss Caleb Downs and Isaiah Bond. In Game 1 against Western Kentucky, Michigan transfer, Keon Sabb showed he is on par with Caleb Downs. And every Alabama fan already knows that Ryan Williams is better than Isaiah Bond. Bond had four touchdowns for the Crimson Tide last season. Super freshman, Ryan Williams already has two, on just two catches. Bond caught passes in 22 Alabama football games, never hitting 100 receiving yards in a game. Williams' two catches against WKU produced 139 yards. The 17-year-old can become one of college football's best this season.

Along with Williams, Alabama is loaded at receiver, with Washington transfer Germie Bernard, Kendrick Law, Kobe Prentice, Cole Adams, Emmanuel Henderson and others.

Along with Malachi Moore, Keon Sabb, transfer Domani Jackson, and others, including three freshmen 5-stars, the Tide's secondary can become a team strength.

Nothing can be taken for granted. Key injuries during the season could cloud this optimism, but make no mistake, the Alabama Crimson Tide has a championship-quality roster. In several areas, it is better than last season.

Note: Player stats provided by Sports Reference and player transfer details provided by 247Sports