The Transfer Portal window closes for Alabama football players in two days. After an initial wave of Crimson Tide players entering the portal, it has slowed way down as we enter the final 48-hour stretch.
Even still, Alabama has seen a couple more WRs enter the portal in Jaren Hamilton and Amari Jefferson, meaning the Crimson Tide has seen six receivers transfer in this cycle.
In terms of additions, Alabama has added DL Kelby Collins (Florida), CB Cameron Calhoun (Utah), OL Kam Dewberry (Texas A&M), WR Isaiah Horton (Miami), and LB Nikhai Hill-Green (Colorado). It is a good portal class so far for the Crimson Tide, adding quality players at positions of need. But there's more needed for Alabama, and Kalen DeBoer and company are not done adding talent in the portal.
As a reminder, the portal window is closed for teams who did not make a bowl game or are now more than five days removed from playing in their bowl. The window remains open for the four semifinal participants until five days after their last game.
What positions should Alabama be targeting at the end of the winter window?
Alabama's remaining positions of need in the Transfer Portal
Defensive Line
Obviously, a lot comes down to a few more NFL Draft decisions, particularly that of NT Tim Keenan III, who could choose to return to the Crimson Tide for a final season of eligibility. If Keenan leaves, Alabama's depth on the interior of the defensive line will be a huge question mark entering spring practice.
As of now, Alabama hasn't been linked to any portal defensive tackles. I think this is arguably Alabama's biggest position of need at this moment in time.
If Keenan leaves for the NFL, Alabama will be left with only James Smith as an interior defensive lineman with a good bit of game experience. Guys like Jeremiah Beaman and Isaia Faga are young players who currently have not seen meaningful snaps.
Alabama signed high school DT London Simmons and JUCO DT Steve Mboumoua. Mboumoua is likely to be called upon to contribute right away.
Even if Keenan returns to Tuscaloosa, adding depth on the defensive line should be considered Alabama's biggest need at this moment in time. You can never really have enough depth up front on your defensive line anyway.
Right Tackle
Unless one of Elijah Pritchett or Wilkin Formby takes a big step this offseason, right tackle will remain a big question mark for the Crimson Tide's offensive line.
With Kadyn Proctor, Parker Brailsford, and Jaedan Roberts all expected to return, Alabama has three spots up front that are pretty solidified, so long as Roberts can get healthy and return to the level of play we saw in 2023 before an injury-plagued 2024 robbed him of any consistency.
Alabama should be able to replace Tyler Booker at left guard with someone on the current roster. Michigan State transfer Geno VanDeMark played a lot of snaps at right guard and will seemingly be first in line to take over. He'll have to hold off Olaus Alinen and incoming 5-star freshman Michael Carroll, both of whom will push for the starting job.
4-star Jackson Lloyd could push for playing time as a freshman at right tackle, but I would be more comfortable heading into next season if Alabama could land an experienced player at tackle. That could ultimately lead to one of, or perhaps both of, Pritchett or Formby leaving via the portal themselves. But that's the price of doing business in this era of college football.
Running Back
Interestingly enough, Alabama is targeting a running back in the Transfer Portal in the aftermath of Justice Haynes deciding to transfer to Michigan. The Crimson Tide has five scholarship running backs for 2025 with Jam Miller, Richard Young, Daniel Hill, and Kevin Riley expected to return plus the addition of 4-star AK Dear in the 2025 recruiting class.
Alabama is looking for extra depth at the position and would like to carry six scholarship backs. They are hosting two running backs for visits this weekend: Utah State's Rahsul Faison and Louisiana's Dre'Lyn Washington.
Faison rushed for more than 1000 yards this past season for the Aggies at nearly six yards per carry. Washington rushed for 478 yards for the Ragin' Cajuns on 6.5 yards per carry in 2024. Faison seems like a guy who could challenge for playing time and could cause someone else to transfer out of Tuscaloosa due to the increase in competition. Washington looks more like a potential depth piece and would be unlikely to cause an additional transfer.
Quarterback
I am intrigued by what DeBoer and company choose to do at quarterback. As of now, they have not been linked to a quarterback in the portal yet. But they currently only have three scholarship quarterbacks on the roster following Jalen Milroe's decision to enter the draft and Dylan Lonergan's transfer to Boston College.
As things currently stand, Alabama will enter the spring with redshirt junior Ty Simpson, redshirt sophomore Austin Mack, and 5-star true freshman Keelon Russell. Simpson is the favorite heading into the spring, but there will be a genuine QB competition for the starting role.
The biggest concern is if Simpson doesn't win the job in the spring and if it appears that Mack or Russell might be ahead of him, what will he decide to do? It's his fourth year of college football and it's now or never for him to start. If he doesn't win the job and chooses to leave, Alabama could only have two scholarship options at QB next season, which could be disastrous if there's a single injury.
Ideally, Alabama would add at least a depth option at QB in the portal, though finding someone who is willing to come in and potentially be the fourth-string QB will not be easy.
As of right now, I would expect the Tide to roll with the three guys they have. I think that's a mistake, however, but I'm not sure there's a realistic way to add another QB without losing someone.