While Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama coaching staff are hyper-focused on the College Football Playoff and the New Year's Day showdown against No. 1 Indiana at the Rose Bowl, Courtney Morgan and others have their attention squarely on the Transfer Portal.
The college football calendar makes it difficult for playoff teams to navigate things. The portal opens on Friday, just one day after the Rose Bowl. That's why having a GM in this current landscape is a necessity.
And Morgan is one of the best in the business.
Alabama has already seen two players from the current roster announce their intentions to enter the portal: backups Kameron Howard (safety) and Roq Montgomery (offensive line). They won't be the last.
Alabama won't be as active in the Transfer Portal as some; the Crimson Tide still prefers to build the roster through high school recruiting and retention. Alabama signed the No. 2 class in the country, per the 247 composite. But there are a few spots Alabama will look to shore up in the portal.
With that in mind, let's make some predictions for players who will land with the Crimson Tide that will surely be 100% accurate.
Alabama could land these 3 players in the Transfer Portal quickly
Alabama will be in the market for an offensive tackle in the Transfer Portal, but may not be willing to spend top dollar for one. DeBoer and company are comfortable with their offensive line recruiting, but adding a veteran who has been through the grind of the SEC would make a lot of sense.
Alabama will almost certainly lose junior LT Kadyn Proctor to the NFL Draft. Veteran guards Kam Dewberry and Jaeden Roberts will exhaust their eligibility. Redshirt junior center Parker Brailsford could also choose to go pro.
Freshman Michael Carroll did exceptional work at right tackle for the Crimson Tide this season, but he could ultimately shift back to guard. Jackson Lloyd is a highly recruited guy who will compete in the spring and fall for the starting gig at LT. But Alabama has to bring competition in.
That's where Adams could come in, who ranks as the No. 4 offensive lineman in Saturday Blitz's Transfer Portal rankings. Adams started 11 games across the last two seasons at LSU, including nine this season. Per Hayes Fawcett, Adams didn't allow a sack in any of those starts.
At 6-foot-7 and 310 pounds, Adams fits the athletic profile that DeBoer and Ryan Grubb are looking for. Cover Crimson's Clint Lamb does an excellent job of explaining why:
This feels like a player worth looking into for Alabama. Bring him in to compete w/Jackson Lloyd at LT. If Lloyd isn’t ready, Adams and Carroll are your two tackles in 2026. If Lloyd is ready and Adams transitions well, one of them could flip over to RT and Carroll could slide… https://t.co/qhZkoqwsEp
— Clint Lamb (@ClintRLamb) December 29, 2025
Off-ball linebacker is a major position of need for Alabama in 2026. The top three at the position, Deontae Lawson, Justin Jefferson, and Nikhai Hill-Green, are all seniors. Like the offensive line, Alabama has some talented youngsters waiting their turn, such as QB Reese and Cayden Jones, among others, as well as 5-star Xavier Griffin in the 2026 recruiting class. But finding an experienced player in the Transfer Portal should be a top priority for the Tide.
Woodyard would be the perfect one-year rental. The Auburn transfer was a one-time Alabama commitment out of high school, and while transfers across the Iron Bowl rivalry line are rare, they do happen from time to time.
The rising senior was second on Auburn's team in tackles and registered seven tackles-for-loss in 2025. He was named 1st team All-SEC by PFF.
Woodyard has one more year to make an impression on NFL scouts. Alabama would give him the opportunity to take on a starring role in the middle of Kane Wommack's defense.
Woodyard currently ranks as the No. 1 LB in the portal, per Saturday Blitz.
Alabama will face stiff competition for USC transfer defensive lineman Devan Thompkins from other SEC schools, such as Georgia, but the Crimson Tide is seemingly in a good spot to land the 6-foot-5, 290-pounder.
Thompkins started 18 games at USC and registered 55 tackles, nine tackles-for-loss, and four and a half sacks during his time in Los Angeles. Thompkins is currently ranked as the No. 6 defensive lineman in Saturday Blitz's portal rankings.
Defensive line may not be the biggest need for the Crimson Tide, but with seniors Tim Keenan and LT Overton leaving, adding a veteran presence up front, particularly one with the versatility of Thompkins, could prove pivotal.
If James Smith ultimately decides to test the NFL draft waters, Alabama's need for a veteran up front grows exponentially.