Link: 2026 Transfer Portal

[JustNeedMe81]

There’s probably a more diplomatic way to say this but screw Miami…lol

For us this would be a GREAT addition this late in the Portal cycle.

He possesses a very similar skill set to Smothers and would go a long way to salvaging how badly we botched that situation.

Pringle has good vision and wastes little time.

Most runs are 1 cut and he’s upfield whether a hole is there or not.

He also has speed to get to the perimeter.

He runs similar to Najee wrt Body Balance and keeps his legs churning and falls forward.

Runs a Sub 4.5 in the 40

As a bonus he also has good hands and in the highlights I’m linking he runs a Wheel Route for a TD and looks like a WR

Good breakdown.

 

[Cruiser]

There’s probably a more diplomatic way to say this but screw Miami…lol

For us this would be a GREAT addition this late in the Portal cycle.

He possesses a very similar skill set to Smothers and would go a long way to salvaging how badly we botched that situation.

Pringle has good vision and wastes little time.

Most runs are 1 cut and he’s upfield whether a hole is there or not.

He also has speed to get to the perimeter.

He runs similar to Najee wrt Body Balance and keeps his legs churning and falls forward.

Runs a Sub 4.5 in the 40

As a bonus he also has good hands and in the highlights I’m linking he runs a Wheel Route for a TD and looks like a WR

Looks like a promising prospect; but not sure you can compare a 5'10"/190lb player to Najee.

 

[Jack Bourbon]

kinda bad that someone like Riley cant have the opportunity to xfer himself if hes being replaced, which is what this effectively seems like. Portal is so screwed up but it is what it is

 

[tusks_n_raider]

Looks like a promising prospect; but not sure you can compare a 5'10"/190lb player to Najee.

I clearly said wrt to Body Control/Balance.

That’s it that’s the comparison.

 

[KrAzY3]

kinda bad that someone like Riley cant have the opportunity to xfer himself if hes being replaced, which is what this effectively seems like. Portal is so screwed up but it is what it is

Two RBs are out, so far one (via recruiting) came in. If no one left when Smothers was committed this isn't much different in truth. in either case, I'm not overly sympathetic to the players in this process, the portal and the rules have been pushed far beyond where they ever should be to favor the players. I'm sure Riley is getting some NIL money, but having said that his 3.7 YPC isn't worth that much on the open market anyway.

In similar use, Pringle has a YPC of 6, but it's not like he's a well proven asset either. I'm not down on the Alabama RBs so much as aware something has to change. Right now they've changed the OL, which could fix some of the problem. The running game was so bad that I can't blame the struggles entirely on offensive line play though. If we're not going to see significant coaching changes, at least another face in the RB room would be nice as it won't replicate last year quite as much.

Having said that there are mixed reports in terms of whether or not Alabama can afford Pringle. So we'll have to see, but I'd feel better if they added as many RBs as they lost at least. As a side note, they are kind of thin on true scholarship receivers as well, Riley is actually fourth among returning players in receptions, so his role in the offense might not vanish either way as Pringle in his limited action caught significantly less receptions (only 4).

 

[Bama9001]

kinda bad that someone like Riley cant have the opportunity to xfer himself if hes being replaced, which is what this effectively seems like. Portal is so screwed up but it is what it is

I'm just assuming that if Riley out-performs the new guy he'll keep his job. He can compete for the job like in the old days.

The question we really need to be asking on all these guys is whether they'll be able to produce with limited blocking. I'm excited to see Crowell play. I've tackled guys with legs like his and it's a load, especially after the 4th or 5th time.

 

[Rocky Mtn Bob]

For us this would be a GREAT addition this late in the Portal cycle.

He possesses a very similar skill set to Smothers and would go a long way to salvaging how badly we botched that situation.

Pringle has good vision and wastes little time.

Most runs are 1 cut and he’s upfield whether a hole is there or not.

He also has speed to get to the perimeter.

[Pringle highlights]

I like!

One more solid RB would please me tremendously. Pringle looks solid.

 

[Cruloc]

If we can get Pringle, I'd be willing to bet the RB room will be a mix of Crowell / Pringle / Hill.

Hill for short yardage with a revamped OL. Crowell and Pringle for rotating home run threats.

Throw Dear into that mix and watch out if the OL can actually block.

 

[Cruloc]

And I'd love to keep Coach Kap, but not as the OL guy. As mentioned by others and myself, sliding his duties to recruiting and getting a new OL coach would be IDEAL!!!

 

[tusks_n_raider]

If we can get Pringle, I'd be willing to bet the RB room will be a mix of Crowell / Pringle / Hill.

Hill for short yardage with a revamped OL. Crowell and Pringle for rotating home run threats.

Throw Dear into that mix and watch out if the OL can actually block.

Hopefully Dear can get involved more too because he also has Homerun ability.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Hopefully Dear can get involved more too because he also has Homerun ability.

I would like to see more physicality in our running game than what we've shown in recent years. I'm not sure how that's accomplished but it sure does make me breathe easier on those 3rd and shorts and 4th and 1's.

 

[KrAzY3]

I would like to see more physicality in our running game than what we've shown in recent years. I'm not sure how that's accomplished but it sure does make me breathe easier on those 3rd and shorts and 4th and 1's.

What, you don't like using the wide receiver as a runner to try to make the conversion on fourth and one?

 

[CB4]

kinda bad that someone like Riley cant have the opportunity to xfer himself if hes being replaced, which is what this effectively seems like. Portal is so screwed up but it is what it is

Not to take this too far off track into a CFP discussion, but this is why the CFP should be done by the first week of January if not sooner. Start the season late August. Regular season done weekend prior to Thanksgiving, eliminate Conference Championship games and start playoffs Thanksgiving weekend.

We play games every weekend during the second. Stick to that routine. Bowls? If you can figure a model to keep them, fine. If not play them on campus.

My point as it relates to the portal? Get the playoffs over and open the portal for two weeks after the championship game for EVERYONE. No piecemeal stuff. My thought is that most decisions on coaching changes will have taken place by that time as well, but those after the portal can be handled as one offs.

 

[Bodhisattva]

What, you don't like using the wide receiver as a runner to try to make the conversion on fourth and one?

Only if it's a slow-developing play to the outside and the blocking is dubious.

 

[CB4]

I would like to see more physicality in our running game than what we've shown in recent years. I'm not sure how that's accomplished but it sure does make me breathe easier on those 3rd and shorts and 4th and 1's.

Yeah it was hard to tell who on our team had “home run” ability when our oline and play calling turn us into a drag bunt offense..

 

[Jack Bourbon]

Regarding ability tO afford pringle, i agree—ill believe it when i see it. And i still would prefer spending money on the LOS ratHer than RB. Especially if the RB commands a bidding war.

 

[KrAzY3]

Regarding ability tO afford pringle, i agree—ill believe it when i see it. And i still would prefer spending money on the LOS ratHer than RB. Especially if the RB commands a bidding war.

I really don't think there's much money to be spent either way. I kind of like what they did with the last OL addition, they got some experience and while some can argue it's just a "mediocre" addition, well that's some protection against the potential "bad" if higher potential/less experience additions don't work out.

I personally would prefer a coaching change over one more RB though, I don't think it was just a personnel issue, but if I had my choice I'd take all 3. I don't think you can get as bad as they were last year (3.4 a rush, worse than Shula's last year, worse since 1998) without there being multiple different things wrong.

 

[sanjosecrimson]

regarding Pringle, he is not even listed in the portal on the Miami site. word is the canes are coughing up the money to keep him in the fold.

 

[TiderJack]

Saw this article from three hours ago regarding Pringle. SJC may be right that they are forking out the cash so we will see.

In an article from On3's Pete Nakos, he reveals that Alabama is an early team to watch for former Miami Hurricanes running back Girard Pringle.

"Sources have told On3 that Alabama is an early school to keep tabs on in this recruitment," Nakos wrote. "A return to Miami has not officially been ruled out yet, either."

The true freshman appeared in nine games in 2025. He carried the ball 62 times for 375 yards and four touchdowns. He also had four receptions for 53 yards and one touchdown. Pringle is leaving Miami after its leading rusher last season, Mark Fletcher Jr., announced he will be returning to school.

Coming out of high school, Pringle was a four-star recruit, the No. 5 running back and the No. 118 player in the nation. He chose the Hurricanes over the Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs, Texas A&M Aggies and even Alabama. Pringle now ranks No. 8 running back to hit the transfer portal this offseason.

However, the Crimson Tide once again finds itself trying to land his commitment. He would be the first running back Alabama adds through the portal. It has already lost redshirt sophomore running back Richard Young, who transferred to the Colorado Buffaloes.

The offense is in need of improvement. Alabama finished the season tied 49th in points per game (29.5) and ranked 84th in total yards per game (367.7)