Nick Saban’s retirement from Alabama was bound to have an impact on the sport, no matter what. However, after opting to stand down on Jan. 10, nine days after the Crimson Tide fell to Michigan in a College Football Playoff national semifinal in the Rose Bowl Game, the program has been keeping an eye on player retention.
Since the announcement on January 19, ten Alabama players have joined the transfer portal, with safety Caleb Downs, wide receiver Isaiah Bond, and offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor among the most notable departures.
Kalen DeBoer was promoted to one of the country’s top jobs after winning 25-3 in two years at Washington, which included a trip to the CFP national championship game. It will be interesting to see how DeBoer, who has a 104-12 career head coaching record, handles the SEC recruiting situation.
The following is a chronological list of Alabama players who have entered the transfer portal since Saban’s statement on January 10:
Bond, who has since transferred to Texas, was perhaps the most important reason Alabama made the College Football Playoff in 2023. His 31-yard touchdown catch on fourth-and-goal versus Auburn lifted the Crimson Tide to a 27-24 victory in the Iron Bowl. He led the club with 48 receptions, 668 yards, and four touchdowns.
Last season, Shawn Murphy played 13 games for Alabama and had three tackles (two solo). He finished 37th overall in the 2022 ESPN 300 and was the cycle’s top inside linebacker.
Ricks, who ranked 19th in the 2023 ESPN 300 (No. 2 CB), redshirted the 2023 season. The IMG Academy product was reclassified for the 2023 cycle on October 22, 2022, and signed with Alabama during the early signing period.
Downs’ 107 tackles not only led the Alabama defense but finished fourth in the SEC. He earned a starting job at strong safety out of fall camp and arguably was the Tide’s best player on defense in helping the unit finish third in total defense in the SEC (313.3 YPG).
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