Alabama Football loses true freshman safety after adding a safety earlier in the day

The Alabama Football team had its most surprising loss of this transfer portal window as true freshman safety Peyton Woodyard entered the transfer portal. Woodyard was a four-star recruit in this recruiting class as the 7th-ranked safety in the class as a top-150 recruit. He enters the transfer portal with a no-contact tag meaning he's likely picked his next program already.

The move is shocking and a sign of the times as Woodyard only went through spring practices as an early enrollee before leaving the program. Part of the departure may be the emergence of Red Morgan and Bray Hubbard who've moved up the depth chart with strong springs.

The Alabama Football team also added a safety via the transfer portal that may have played a part in Woodyard leaving. The Crimson Tide added Charlotte Safety Kameron Howard who's coming off of a strong freshman season. In 2023, Howard recorded 38 tackles with two interceptions and a pass defense. Landing Howard will give the Tide some experience at safety after losing Caleb Downs and Jaylen Key this off-season.

The Alabama Football team will have one experienced starter in Malachi Moore while the rest of the safety group will be a competition between Howard, Tony Mitchell, DeVonta Smith, Bray Hubbard, and Zay Mincey.

Sign of the changing landscape for Alabama Football

The departure of a true freshman before one full season is something we're going to see become more popular as transfer rules and NIL continue to change. The ability to transfer right away while also having a chance to earn money while playing makes it increasingly popular to land at a school where you'll play from year one. This departure likely has little to do with Kalen DeBoer and the new staff but, more to do with playing time at the start of Woodyard's career.