Link: 2026 Transfer Portal

[Special K]

The staff knows they struck out in the portal last year.....but they've made no changes on how they go about the portal it appears?

We've got the same staff doing the same things.

This is what it appears to me also, but hope I'm wrong. If they "strike out" again this year, it's beginning of the end for CKD and staff I believe. He's not fooling me with all that "thin line between this and greatness" baloney. They've got quite a gap to bridge and portal strikeout would be like the Tacoma Narrows disaster.

 

[KrAzY3]

In my opinion....we shouldn't be spending big bucks on any one players in the portal. We've got too many open spots to fill. Hopefully they've budgeted per position and are attacking the portal accordingly.

What makes the sense to me.....a simpleton fan:

- We have 29 spots to fill
- How much money do we have total available?
- What positions do we need the most? OL and DL!!!!
- Of the available money, we put most of it in OL and DL
- We spread out what else we need with what we have left.
- Which freshmen do we expect to make an impact?
- We needed a Punter....we got one now
- We needed at least one TE......we got one

I expected more movement on what would be "minimum" type guys. With all the open space, and what should be a really robust big board for the portal, there should be a lot of sleeper pick type guys the program is interested in and there's no reason to wait on those guys. There's thousands of guys, just being a power program means an offer from Alabama beats most other offers. This is where the University itself would bear most of the cost, which as I already demonstrated has a habit of spending money on dumb stuff anyway so might as well spend it on the team that actually makes money.

So I expected to see more movement of the low budget sort to build depth. The reason for that is simple, if for instance they miss again on some key positions like last year, they already have depth and they can be more responsive to it rather than the "oh well wait until next year". You'll note that Saban used up every single signing slot and roster spot he had, those are resources and he didn't like wasting resources.

If all they do is try to address known needs, the issue is they'll run into problems when they run into unexpected injuries, or missed evaluations.

To summarize, big money on known needs and then budget buys for depth. It's the lack of any sign they are prepared to build depth via the portal that's disconcerting to me. This can't be another dozen from the portal year when you lose 20 (last year it was 12 in and 25 out but the limit didn't move to 105 either). It didn't work last year and it won't work this year.

 

[AlexanderFan]

This is what it appears to me also, but hope I'm wrong. If they "strike out" again this year, it's beginning of the end for CKD and staff I believe. He's not fooling me with all that "thin line between this and greatness" baloney. They've got quite a gap to bridge and portal strikeout would be like the Tacoma Narrows disaster.

How would you know that you struck out in the portal until after the players have played in a game?

The staff sees guys, attempts to determine if they will fit here, sees if they can afford to bid on them, and tries to bring them in. The film on the guys coming in looks acceptable, how else is the staff supposed to determine the super star from the super dud?

 

[Coach D]

Idk what we will look like last year but it seems to me the only real big miss so far has been the OT that South Carolina got. I would have felt great if we landed him and a few of these other OL guys but there are still a number of targets out there.

OL is big but if we get Coleman somehow and that transfer RB we got works out then those are 2 pretty big pieces for next year.

Coleman and any rb wouldn’t help if a bad o line again. Think Coleman is out of the picture officially already anyway. Get the lsu and maybe the other Mich (although bad fit) and one other OL guy at a minimum and the Tenn DL guy then can worry about other positions and spending money. Otherwise it’s a tough team at the moment but too early to worry.

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

Who the heck are these people? So we need Horton, a wideout, helping in pass protection? He would have needed to be 4-5 yards deep in the backfield to run block because we refuse to run wide. Hilarious

The blocking that is referred to isn't pass-protection. It's down-field and perimeter blocking...

 

[AlexanderFan]

The blocking that is referred to isn't pass-protection. It's down-field and perimeter blocking...

Yep, how many screen plays looked promising if the ball carrier could've gotten past the first guy who nobody bothered to block?

 

[BamaNation]

On the other hand, look at Shaquille O'Neil: Entered the NBA in '92 ... BA in 2000 ... Masters in 2005 ... PhD in 2012. When he left LSU for the NBA he promised his mom he'd graduate from college.

He's managed his money very very well. He's very personally involved in his investments.

Think about this:

A 20yr old QB getting $4MM in 2026 who puts it all in a total market index and doesn't touch it until he's 60 will have about $200MM. If he doesn't touch until he's about 75 or 80, he'll most likely be a billionaire just on what he made playing ball in 2026.

Now, think about the number of guys getting $4MM who will actually not acquire all the blingbling and who instead will put at least some of what they earn this year into long-term investments like this and not touch it for a few decades. Any schools who are not emphasizing this point are doing their players a disservice. The players are 20 so they're not going to listen but making it an important required part of the NIL process is a no brainer.

 

[CB4]

This is what it appears to me also, but hope I'm wrong. If they "strike out" again this year, it's beginning of the end for CKD and staff I believe. He's not fooling me with all that "thin line between this and greatness" baloney. They've got quite a gap to bridge and portal strikeout would be like the Tacoma Narrows disaster.

Nice use of “Galloping Gertie”….

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2009679410400764387

All about the money!!!

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

Educate me. So there's a limit to rev. sharing, but no limit to what individuals can do?

If so, other than the former, the latter is simply legalized $100 handshakes X how much ever a guy wants to spend???

awbern says....we been doing that forever anyways...

 

[tideindc]

If you guys watched the pre-game last night they did a piece on Saban's role with training all 4 guys still in the playoff. After that was over Pat McAfee said, "why didn't Bama hire someone from the tree?" Saban ignored that statement but I thought, yes, why not.

To be fair, Two yrs ago, most would’ve thought CKD was a better hire than Mario , Cignetti, or Golden! Lanning said no and Lane was out for personality reasons.

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

Coleman and any rb wouldn’t help if a bad o line again. Think Coleman is out of the picture officially already anyway. Get the lsu and maybe the other Mich (although bad fit) and one other OL guy at a minimum and the Tenn DL guy then can worry about other positions and spending money. Otherwise it’s a tough team at the moment but too early to worry.

Coleman is literally on campus right now I'm pretty sure.

I don't disagree OL is a concern. I just think a coaching change could go a long way and if we bring in a few guys we could be okay. Maybe Haywood comes

 

[Rocky Mtn Bob]

As far as the current portal situation, I am getting a bit nervous as Alabama seems rather slow moving. I wouldn't be worried about that too much except for the fact they let some key offensive linemen and defensive players walk....

Calling the guys who were backups -- to the guys who couldn't run block and couldn't pass protect -- "key" is a reach.

So basically waiting for them to make their move because they darn sure need to.

I am pretty confident Morgan and DeBoer know what they're doing. I'm not going to hit the Panic Button.

 

[AlexanderFan]

Coleman is literally on campus right now I'm pretty sure.

I don't disagree OL is a concern. I just think a coaching change could go a long way and if we bring in a few guys we could be okay. Maybe Haywood comes

There more than likely will be one after the portal closes.

 

[Rocky Mtn Bob]

Herbstreit nails it

[Video]

Probably the first time I've respected Herbstreit's opinion.

 

[Rocky Mtn Bob]

... of the 4, 4 stars they added via the portal last year, 3 of them are already gone again. I'm looking over the list and it's not like it's a bunch of impact players. So what are they doing this year that's going to be so much better than what they did last year? That's the concern...

Somehow I think CKD, Morgan and whomever else works on the portal stuff is also learning how to navigate in this very fluid dynamic. And they're learning better and faster than I.

 

[Rocky Mtn Bob]

yes - just like when I scream at the TV during games!

You mean they CAN'T hear me all the way from Colorado??!!!

 

[RdunawayTX]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2009679410400764387

It's about money, folks. It's always about money. If a kid can get another 100k somewhere else, he will go. Horton is chasing money. Haynes is chasing money. It's the way it is.

This has to be corrected.

 

[The Ols]

Una found this guy , seems like a good punter, makes you wonder ,,

Wonder what? All 130+ D1 schools missed out on him?

 

[RdunawayTX]

Nice use of “Galloping Gertie”….

I've driven across the rebuilt bridge. A pod of killer whales were swimming by.