Alabama met Greg Byrne, the athletic director,’sdeadlineby finding a new head coach in less than 72 hours. Nevertheless, the transfer window for Crimson Tide players was reopened by the retirement. Kalen DeBoer’s first task was to assemble his new team and stop top players from defecting to other prestigious programs.
After a month, the floodgates have temporarily closed. Alabama will have another opportunity to bolster its roster during the two-week spring transfer window, which opens on April 16. While some key members of Saban’s final recruiting classes made bold choices, DeBoer was able to capitalize on Washington players who chose to follow their former coach to Tuscaloosa.
These are the teams Alabama lost to in the portal after Saban’s retirement.
Isaiah Bond
Bond, the first player to depart, moved fast to Texas, where he was assisted by former Saban assistant Steve Sarkisian. Forever associated with “Gravedigger,” Bond made the game-winning catch on 4th and 31 in the Iron Bowl. He even got mocked for his James Bond-style celebration after Auburn basketball defeated UA last week.
Bond got along well with starting quarterback Jalen Milroe and was anticipated to be a key member of DeBoer’s explosive receiving group. Kendrick Law and Kobe Prentice, two returners, will now be crucial to UA’s success. The addition of UW transfer Germie Bernard and five-star prospect Ryan Williams to Alabama’s roster proved crucial in rebuilding the team.
Bond finished the year with 48 catches, four touchdowns and 668 receiving yards.
Caleb Downs
Downs, who was unquestionably the biggest loss, will be remembered as one of Alabama’s greatest freshmen and one of the most successful one-year players in school history. With 107 tackles, Downs led UA. He was a model player under Nick Saban and was awarded the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award. The next phases of Downs’ development will be visible to Ryan Day and Ohio State, as the Tide must replace every member of their starting secondary save Malachi Moore.
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