Post A-Day Alabama Football Portal activity kicks in
Spring Transfer Portal frenzy got an early boost on Sunday, with one Alabama football player reported to be entering the April window that opens on Tuesday.
By Ronald Evans
Less than 24 hours after Alabama Football's A-Day, transfer activity has begun. On Sunday morning, Matt Zenitz reported Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back, Tony Mitchell will enter the Transfer Portal when it reopens on Tuesday.
Going into the spring Portal cycle over 2,300 players had entered the Portal. Some experts predict another 1,000 will enter the Portal during the short window between Apr. 16 and April 30. According to On3, so far 1,342 players have joined new teams.
Tony Mitchell was a top 100, 4-Star in Alabama's 2023 class. The Crimson Tide defensive back played in six games as a freshman, with only one stat recorded, a special teams assisted tackle. At one point during the 2023 recruiting cycle, Mitchell was a 5-Star prospect.
Kalen DeBoer and his staff are expected to be active in the spring Portal. Of particular interest to the Crimson Tide are offensive linemen and cornerbacks. Not long after the Zenitz tweet, it was taken down causing speculation that the usually accurate reporter might have been wrong about Mitchell.
What is assured is the Crimson Tide will have spring transfer attrition. If for no other reason, it will be because Alabama's roster must be trimmed to make room for new additions. An unofficial count is that Alabama has 84 scholarship players (including summer enrollees), plus Kadyn Proctor who will be added again when he enrolls this summer. Recent rumors that Proctor might be wavering on his move back to Alabama from Iowa were quieted on Saturday with his A-Day attendance.
Close followers of Alabama football recruiting will remember that Tony Mitchell is prone to changing his mind. He cannot transfer to an SEC program and play in the 2024 season. Some Alabama football fans question why Mitchell would leave an unsettled Crimson Tide secondary. The answer could be that at safety the Crimson Tide has sufficient depth.
There may be April Portal surprises for the Crimson Tide, but there is reason for optimism that by May, the Crimson Tide roster will be reinforced rather than depleted.
Note: This post will be updated as Tony Mitchell's decision evolves.