Five players who may regret leaving Alabama in 2024

Alabama saw a ton of transfer portal departures this offseason. While transfer exits are inevitable in the modern world of college football, Bama had a unique offseason with the retirement of Coach Nick Saban and had to endure an additional portal window as a result. In all, 40 players left the program, most of whom were highly coveted prospects at one point in time. 

Many went to more favorable situations after being buried on the Crimson Tide’s depth chart. Running back Roydell Williams will be a feature back at Florida State after playing reserve and short yardage roles for four years in Tuscaloosa. Center Seth McLaughlin managed to escape what had become a toxic situation at Alabama and landed at another prestigious program in Ohio State, where he is expected to start. Several more players transferred down to lower-tier programs after failing to crack the lineup at Alabama. 

Other players, however, were firmly positioned for success with the Tide and made hasty decisions to leave the Capstone that they may eventually come to regret.

Isaiah Bond

On a surface level, the national belief is that Bond went to a much better offensive situation in Texas, but I think it’s way too early to make this kind of assumption. Steve Sarkisian is arguably the best offensive mind in the sport and will certainly scheme Bond into some favorable situations, but I’d argue that Alabama’s offensive personnel is just as good if not better. 

Additionally, Bond had already begun to establish himself in the Bama offense and had a quarterback in Jalen Milroe who loved looking for him. Quinn Ewers is a very good quarterback who will find Bond often, but Milroe had the best deep ball in the country last season and Bond excels at getting vertical. 

Additionally, Bond made some incredibly memorable plays wearing Crimson & White, most notably his game-winning catch in the Iron Bowl. He was well on his way to becoming an Alabama legend, but that will no longer be the case.

I think Bond would’ve found it very easy playing next to potential gamebreakers like Germie Bernard and Ryan Williams in Kalen DeBoer's offense. With Milroe another year older and more polished, Isaiah Bond could’ve feasted for the Tide.