One Year Later: 2024 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Transfer Portal Revisited

A little over a year ago, Nick Saban announced his retirement from coaching. This move triggered open a ridiculous 30-day transfer portal window for any Alabama who wanted out. The final tally was 28 players exiting Bama via the Transfer Portal and some observers were calling it a “mass exodus”.

With the passing of a full 12 months, we are at a point in which to get a better measure of the impact of that activity.

TRANSFER OUT

(Listed by TP entrance date)

1. QB Tyler Buchner entered 12/04/2023, destination: Notre Dame Lacrosse – After lacrosse season, he walked-on the football team as a wide receiver. He recorded no catches, but had one rush for 4 yards.
2. WR Thaiu Jones-Bell 12/04/2023, destination unknown – Although he was not on the roster in 2023, he was still reportedly enrolled at UA. Where he is now is unclear.
3. DL Isaiah Hastings 12/07/2023 > Syracuse – Reserve player played in all 13 games, recorded 4.0 tackles.
4. WR Ja’Corey Brooks 12/07/2023 > Louisville – He had a really good year (61 rec, 1013 yds, 9 TD) with at least 3 catches in every game. That said, something kept him off the field at Alabama in 2023. Be it health or attitude or personal issues, the public will probably never know.
5. DL Anquin Barnes 12/11/2023 > Colorado – 12 games played as a back-up, 8 solos, 5 assists
6. QB Eli Holstein 1/03/2024 > Pitt – Became Pitt’s starter but struggled with injuries. 2,225 passing yards, 17 TD, 7 INT.
7. LB Monkell Goodwine 1/03/2024 > South Carolina – Appeared in all 13 games as a reserve, 10 solos, 5 assts.
8. WR Malik Benson 1/03/2024 > Florida State – Kinda meh (25 recs, 311 yds, 1 TD) for a godawful team and he has transferred to Oregon.
9. OC Seth McLaughlin 1/03/2024 > Ohio State – Became starter and figured out how to snap the ball. Despite this improvement, most Alabama fans are pretty happy with his replacement, Parker Brailsford.
10. WR Shazz Preston 1/03/2024 > Tulane – 4 rec, 99 yds, 1 TD as a third teamer.
11. TE Miles Kitselman 1/03/2024 > Tennessee – Became a starter and was an intricate part of the Vols offense (22-301-4). It turned out to be a good move for him – since he was buried in the Bama depth chart – and his departure did not particularly hurt the Tide.
12. S Kristian Story 1/03/2024 > Kentucky – Played in all games with UK (16 solo, 12 asst, INT vs Fla, FF vs Texas) but did not start.
13. LB Ian Jackson 1/04/2024 > UTSA – 12 games as a reserve, 2 tackles.
14. RB Roydell Williams 1/05/2024 > Florida State – A disastrous season (26 rush, 53 yds, 2.0 ypc, damaging fumble vs Memphis) for a dumpster fire team and missed several games with various injuries. Even so, the Seminoles are bringing him back for Year 6.
15. DB Earl Little II 1/03/2024 > Florida State – Back-up free safety, 12 games played. 10 solo tackles, 5 assists.
16. OL Terrence Ferguson 1/03/2024 > Florida State – Played in 11 games with seven starts at left guard.
17. LB Kendrick Blackshire 1/08/2024 > Texas – His time in Austin was very short lived as he again transferred after the spring semester. He participated in 3 games at UTSA.
18. S Jake Pope 1/07/2024 > Georgia – Appeared in four games as a reserve and did not record a stat. He is on the move again and is heading out west to UNLV.
19. WR Isaiah Bond 1/12/2024 > Texas – Began the season as a starter for UT. Ended it as a bench player. He shut out versus Arizona State and then dropped a big pass against Ohio State. Two catches in the final four games. Going pro.
20. LB Shawn Murphy 1/13/2024 > Florida State – Back-up at FSU in 2024, moving on to South Carolina.
21. DB Antonio Kite 1/13/2024 > Auburn – A year ago, many Tigers fans reveled in the fact that they done “stole” a player from Bammer. After playing sparingly, Kite was reportedly dismissed from the team in late October for “missing practice on multiple occasions.” So, discipline problem, eh? Apparently players skipping practices is no problem for Lane Kiffin. Kite will be on his third SEC West team in three years.
22. DB Dezz Ricks 1/13/2024 > Texas A&M – Played in 12 games with eight starts. He compiled 17 solos, 3 assts, and had an INT vs Arky. Good for him that he found playing time on a secondary that gave up the 90th most passing yards in the 2024. He probably would have seen playing time this past season and upcoming season with the Tide but it is debatable if he would have been a starter.
23. TE Amari Niblack 1/14/2024 > Texas – Likely chasing money, this guy went from 20 receptions for 327 yards and 4 TD with Bama to 5 recs, 33 yards and no scores with the ‘Horns. He heads 100 miles up the road to Texas A&M.
24. CB Trey Amos 1/15/2024 > Ole Miss – After one year at Alabama, he had a pretty good season as a starter in Oxford and even made a few All-SEC teams. I suppose you can’t blame the guy. 39 solos, 11 asst, third in the nation in passes defended (16). The 5th year senior should get drafted pretty early.
25. OL Kadyn Proctor 1/17/2024 > Iowa > Alabama – Changed his mind and came back to Bama.
26. S Caleb Downs 1/17/2024 > Ohio State – Chasing money.
27. QB Julian Sayin 1/19/2024 > Ohio State – While it is uncertain what they promised this guy to head up north, he spent the season on the bench anyway – this time behind Will Howard. Sayin threw 12 passes and completed 5 for 84 and a TD. 61 yards and the score came against Western Michigan. Some observers think he will be the new starter in Columbus, but he will have 2025 5-star Tavien St. Clair to contend with.
28. DB Jameer Grimsley 1/18/2024 > Florida – 2 games, no stats. Looking like a third-teamer in Gainesville.

INCOMING

Before Saban’s departure, he picked up transfers from three players. Two became vital players. Soon after coach Kalen DeBoer came on board at Alabama, the new coach was able add more transfers, including several from Washington. Listed below in no particular order are the incoming transfers.

• DE/LB LT Overton, Texas A&M (Saban) – Starter at the Bandit (ie “Jack”) position. 17 solos, 25 asst, 2 sacks, FF, FR.
• CB Domani Jackson, Southern Cal (Saban) – Starter and top cornerback. He played the third-most snaps of any Alabama defender. He unofficially gave up 26 catches for 307 yards and a touchdown on 49 targets. That is a 53% completion rate which is really not that bad. But the one score allowed is pretty major. 27 solos, 24 asst, 7 PDs, 2 INT, FF.
• OL Naquil Betrand, Texas A&M (Saban) – His name was removed from roster early in the season, transferred to Syracuse.
• OC Parker Brailsford, Washington – Freshman All-American center at UW instantly stabilized the center position. Another underappreciated player.
• QB Austin Mack, Washington – Rising RS sophomore QB should be in the mix for starter. He was 2-of-3 passing for 39 yards and a touchdown – all against Mercer.
• WR Germie Bernard, Washington – Starting receiver who could have gone pro after this season. He had team-leading 50 catches to go with 794 yards and two TDs. Also had 4 rushes for 37 yards and a touchdown – the rushing score came vs UGA.
• CB DaShawn Jones, Wake Forest – Played in every game and came on strong late in the season at Husky. He could be the reason Devonta Smith transferred out and likely takes his place in the safety/linebacker hybrid position.
• OL Geno VanDeMark Michigan State – Swiss Army Knife OL can play anywhere along the line and often did. He played in all 12 games with one start at left guard and one at right guard. He has a really good shot at starting in 2025.
• PK Graham Nicholson Miami-OH – Starting kicker did not get very many opportunities to kick field goals (8 of 10 made), but he connected on all 53 PAT attempts.
• TE Josh Cuevas Washington – Provided much needed depth at tight end and projects as number one in the spring. 16 rec, 218 yds, 1 TD in 2024.
• DB Kameron Howard Charlotte – Played four games and took a redshirt. Entering his RS sophomore season.
• S Keon Sabb Michigan – Was the starting safety for the Tide until he suffered a season ending injury against Tennessee.
• DB King Mack Penn State – Played in every game but only 7 tackles. Heading back to PSU.