Link: 2026 Transfer Portal

[bamaga]

About the grade I would give us in the portal. I like our additions but proof is in the pudding.

Alabama Crimson Tide Transfer Portal Report Card: Kalen DeBoer makes high risk gamble

The Alabama Crimson Tide had a season that's hard to get a feeling on as this team made the College Football Playoff, but had some clear major flaws. Alabama on

saturdayblitz.com

C+, B- across the board for me. I still don’t understand Russaw and Smith leaving. They played a lot last year, except the injury to Russaw. I don’t get Horton leaving either. Those three are puzzling

 

[JustNeedMe81]

Nick Saban Details Advice He Gave Jalen Hurts Before QB’s Transfer to Oklahoma

The Alabama coach offered the future Eagles quarterback guidance at two key points of his career.

www.si.com

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

It isn't even that complicated really, I was just watching a show about people doing really stupid, pointless car builds that cost hundreds of thousands. In most of these cases these are cars they will never seen a return in and they're often barely drive-able. So billionaires don't have a monopoly on doing dumb things with money.

Toward that end, the 47 million dollar golf practice facility is hardly an isolated occurrence. Most people will never even lay eyes on it, on a scale of reasonable NIL to a 10 million dollar quarterback, that surpasses even the 10 million dollar quarterback because at least the football team earns some money.

They just need to be clever. If some rich booster wants some dumb facility to be built, sure, Alabama's athletic department has 200 million a year to spend, they can do that. But they should get some football NIL money from them so the program which actually earns revenue to pay for all that other junk can sustain itself. Likewise, there are quite a few people that can donate 6 figures a year, and if you engage with them properly and get them involved in the process in a sensible way you can probably figure some things out.

You just can't be dumb in how you go about it (not saying they are mind you).

Anyway, specifically to the topic of the portal one thing I was wondering about is if Alabama is sitting on some roster spots/scholarships on purpose just to see what things look like in the spring. Obviously with no new portal opening they're not going to get any more high ranked portal recruits, but they could possibly add depth at some areas of need that present themself by going after a few players still stuck in limbo.

You keep bringing up the amount that the golf facility cost.

Let's remember that Golf is a rich man's (and non-athletic TBH) sport, so there is a bit more than a casual interest there from those with "money to burn"...

I am thankful that we have the facility as I am quite proud of our recent Golf History. We have several highly successful Alumni that are golf enthusiasts.

 

[JDCrimson]

You keep bringing up the amount that the golf facility cost.

Let's remember that Golf is a rich man's (and non-athletic TBH) sport, so there is a bit more than a casual interest there from those with "money to burn"...

I am thankful that we have the facility as I am quite proud of our recent Golf History. We have several highly successful Alumni that are golf enthusiasts.

If there is any Collegiate player that generate significant and legitimate NIL for themselves its the men's and women's golfers. The NIL per player available is staggering especially for programs like Bama's. Its probably the one sport on campus that can continue to pursue booster contributions for facilities that has not been diverted to NIL in other sports.

The SEC Network would do well to spinoff a SEC golf channel in my opinion. I dont like playing golf but I like watching it.

If any conference is going to spinoff from the NCAA they will have to figure out how to generate more TV revenue for more of their traditional low-revenue sports.

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

C+, B- across the board for me. I still don’t understand Russaw and Smith leaving. They played a lot last year, except the injury to Russaw. I don’t get Horton leaving either. Those three are puzzling

My guess is they valued Yhonzae Pierre more than Russaw and so Russaw decided to leave. Smith and him have always been a package deal

 

[bamaga]

My guess is they valued Yhonzae Pierre more than Russaw and so Russaw decided to leave. Smith and him have always been a package deal

I know they were always a package deal since HS. The way players are rotated, and Russaw was the starter and played well until the injury, I’m thinking a year of rehab, getting stronger and he will be back 100% to terrorizing offenses off the edge. He and Pierre would be a formidable 1-2. Plus, you have to split up sometime. I mean, if he gets drafted Smith won’t be with him. I can see them telling the NFL, the two of us are really one draft pick.

 

[bamaga]

I don’t like the way On3 grades team portal transfers. It’s a silly system , they need to grade the players you bring in. In most cases, If a player leaves no matter high highly rated , he obviously wasn’t the right fit, so you can’t grade the players you lost based on potential. If he doesn’t play because he wasn’t the right fit, then his potential was zero for your team. Even if he goes on to be a star somewhere else.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

My guess is they valued Yhonzae Pierre more than Russaw and so Russaw decided to leave. Smith and him have always been a package deal

Yeah, I think this is what transpired. Pierre came in and took full advantage of his opportunity and turned into a legit pass rusher. I'm sure Alabama offered Russaw plenty of money to stay, so I don't think "money" was the leading factor of his decision to leave. I think reps was the leading factor.

 

[Tideflyer]

C+, B- across the board for me. I still don’t understand Russaw and Smith leaving. They played a lot last year, except the injury to Russaw. I don’t get Horton leaving either. Those three are puzzling

Money talks?

 

[Tideflyer]

Yeah, I think this is what transpired. Pierre came in and took full advantage of his opportunity and turned into a legit pass rusher. I'm sure Alabama offered Russaw plenty of money to stay, so I don't think "money" was the leading factor of his decision to leave. I think reps was the leading factor.

You could well be correct. I’ve just grown muy cynical these days about “ college “ football.

 

[Bama9001]

C+, B- across the board for me. I still don’t understand Russaw and Smith leaving. They played a lot last year, except the injury to Russaw. I don’t get Horton leaving either. Those three are puzzling

Both were expecting to be poised and ready to be first round NFL draft picks this year, like the guy that went to Clemson. I believe it is more likely that both would get passed on the depth chart than it is that they would finally have that breakout season in 2026. It'll be very interesting to watch what happens with them at OSU.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

You could well be correct. I’ve just grown muy cynical these days about “ college “ football.

I'm not saying it didn't play ANY role. But I think a lot of it had to do with reps and playing time as well. Either way, if he and Smith don't want to be here, then I don't want them here.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

I know they were always a package deal since HS. The way players are rotated, and Russaw was the starter and played well until the injury, I’m thinking a year of rehab, getting stronger and he will be back 100% to terrorizing offenses off the edge. He and Pierre would be a formidable 1-2. Plus, you have to split up sometime. I mean, if he gets drafted Smith won’t be with him. I can see them telling the NFL, the two of us are really one draft pick.

It will be like the movie Stepbrothers.

 

[AlexanderFan]

Yeah, I think this is what transpired. Pierre came in and took full advantage of his opportunity and turned into a legit pass rusher. I'm sure Alabama offered Russaw plenty of money to stay, so I don't think "money" was the leading factor of his decision to leave. I think reps was the leading factor.

Guys still don’t understand that the more you’re out there the more chance there’s negative film. Split reps, save your body, excel when you’re out there.

Profit.