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.

 

[JustNeedMe81]

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.

Based on what? I don't think they were first round pick potential for this year.


Horton- He left because of uncertainty at QB. He wants to play in NFL, and to improve his NFL stock, he wanted to go somewhere who can get him the ball. Manning is it. I get it. If I'm WR, I would be uncertain as well.

Russaw/ Smith: Russaw wasn't going to see increased playing time this year due to Pierre. His spot was taken. It would've been great to have Russaw and Smith with us. That's experience right there. But I'm glad Russaw/Smith are gone though. Smith was always that inconsistent player who makes bonehead plays often. What concerns me about Russaw and Smith being as package deal all the way back to HS and then transferring to Ohio State together... It tells me Russaw is alpha male who keeps Smith in check. When they are separate, one of them does not function well and get in trouble. I suspect it is Smith that depends on Russaw more than Russaw depending on Smith.

Out of all transfer portals we lost, the two I wish we kept: Kelby Collins and Noah Carter. Everyone else, I'm okay with it.

 

[JustNeedMe81]

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

I think that's reasonable grade... but for me:

OL- B plus. I'm glad they didn't go out and get the most expensive player for OL. Sometime it's not always worth it. You can find 5 best OL anywhere for the right price and as long they know how to execute, it shouldn't matter.

RB- F. Alabama and Smothers didn't handle this right. Both side was wrong for how they handled this.
WR B- I wish Alabama brought in one more WR, just for experience. I think we're okay there.
DL- A plus What we had going out, and what we got coming in, that's a huge upgrade. I love this move.
LB- C + I don't like how we handled this, but we do have experience coming back. This could be a grade that turns into A if all goes well this fall.

Special team: A plus. Bring in competition.

 

[KrAzY3]

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.

I keep bringing it up because we somehow exist in a world where they can afford a 47 million facility that is as you alluded to caters to those with money to burn, yet people repeatedly say they can't afford a 60 million dollar buyout.

How can those two things be possible at the same time? Likewise, we watch Alabama get outbid over and over for players, and we say they can't afford a 40 million dollar roster or what ever the costs may be, but once again, can afford a rather unnecessary and lavish 47 million dollars so the golf players can practice in style (the program was doing fine without it).

I'm not a big fan of NIL, but you can invest 250 more million into the golf program and you's still get at best in the low 7 figures back annually. The success of failure of the football team can produce mid-8 figure swings in revenue annually (without even getting into how much the football program has driven an increase in attendance to the University as a whole). Basically, the difference in ROI here is at least a hundredfold.

So as you alluded to, basically the people with money wanted it, right? So they got it. Which is fine, but are we to believe they're all broke now because of it? That's their big spend, they say hey 47 million practice facility for a golf program that brings in about a million a year, that's where all my money went, sorry we're broke now?

The reality is that the football program basically carries all the other programs, including golf. You have to take care of it first! If you stop doing that, the entire budget of the department will drop and all other sports will suffer for it. Alabama isn't a 200 million a year athletic department because of golf and the boosters and the AD need to remember that. I don't mind them paying that much for a golf practice facility, I do mind doing that when you don't have enough to keep Caleb Downs.

I bring up Caleb Downs because we now know that basically around the same time funds were being diverted to this facility, the Alabama NIL program was also under-funded and this has been discussed and covered. Now I'm not saying Saban quit because of this, but under Saban the Alabama NIL program was not getting enough funds, at the same time things like this were. Instead of hunting for a billionaire, just better apply the money already being spent...

@AlexanderFan Rather than make another reply about this, I'll just reiterate the point I made earlier. If I'm an AD and a booster comes to me and wants to donate to the golf program, I will say fine look I will use X amount of funds on the golf program. I have 200+ million to spend, I can put less than 10% of my budget into paying players, so I can honor your wish. Now go donate that money to the NIL collective! That's the solution, leverage the funds the university already has. They're top 3 in revenue but falling behind because they're not leveraging it well enough.

 

[AlexanderFan]

I keep bringing it up because we somehow exist in a world where they can afford a 47 million facility that is as you alluded to caters to those with money to burn, yet people repeatedly say they can't afford a 60 million dollar buyout.

How can those two things be possible at the same time? Likewise, we watch Alabama get outbid over and over for players, and we say they can't afford a 40 million dollar roster or what ever the costs may be, but once again, can afford a rather unnecessary and lavish 47 million dollars so the golf players can practice in style (the program was doing fine without it).

I'm not a big fan of NIL, but you can invest 250 more million into the golf program and you's still get at best in the low 7 figures back annually. The success of failure of the football team can produce mid-8 figure swings in revenue annually (without even getting into how much the football program has driven an increase in attendance to the University as a whole). Basically, the difference in ROI here is at least a hundredfold.

So as you alluded to, basically the people with money wanted it, right? So they got it. Which is fine, but are we to believe they're all broke now because of it? That's their big spend, they say hey 47 million practice facility for a golf program that brings in about a million a year, that's where all my money went, sorry we're broke now?

The reality is that the football program basically carries all the other programs, including golf. You have to take care of it first! If you stop doing that, the entire budget of the department will drop and all other sports will suffer for it. Alabama isn't a 200 million a year athletic department because of golf and the boosters and the AD need to remember that. I don't mind them paying that much for a golf practice facility, I do mind doing that when you don't have enough to keep Caleb Downs.

I bring up Caleb Downs because we now know that basically around the same time funds were being diverted to this facility, the Alabama NIL program was also under-funded and this has been discussed and covered. Now I'm not saying Saban quit because of this, but under Saban the Alabama NIL program was not getting enough funds, at the same time things like this were. Instead of hunting for a billionaire, just better apply the money already being spent...

just because they’re under the same company doesn’t mean they share the same money. Golf donations go to golf

 

[arthurdawg]

I think that's reasonable grade... but for me:

OL- B plus. I'm glad they didn't go out and get the most expensive player for OL. Sometime it's not always worth it. You can find 5 best OL anywhere for the right price and as long they know how to execute, it shouldn't matter.

RB- F. Alabama and Smothers didn't handle this right. Both side was wrong for how they handled this.
WR B- I wish Alabama brought in one more WR, just for experience. I think we're okay there.
DL- A plus What we had going out, and what we got coming in, that's a huge upgrade. I love this move.
LB- C + I don't like how we handled this, but we do have experience coming back. This could be a grade that turns into A if all goes well this fall.

Special team: A plus. Bring in competition.

I think they are pretty high on our younger LBs who did get some snaps. Hoping it will be a positive given our average play there the last couple of years.

 

[Ledsteplin]

Do you know why? I don’t remember the situation.

I think Saban thought he would do better, or be a better fit at Oklahoma. Not real sure. I'm sure there was coach talk behind the scenes. But he did really good at Oklahoma.