Alabama football has two players testing the waters of the NCAA transfer portal.
The Crimson Tide now faces losing an assistant coach to a Southeastern Conference Western Division opponent.
According to Ross Dellinger, a college football writer for Yahoo Sports, Mississippi State University is finalizing the hire of Coleman Hutzler as its defensive coordinator. Hutzler is Alabama’s outside linebackers coach/special teams coordinator.
Mississippi State is finalizing the hire of Alabama OLB coach/special teams coordinator Coleman Hutzler as defensive coordinator, sources tell @YahooSports.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 6, 2023
He arrived at the University of Alabama in 2021 after spending time at Ole Miss as its special teams coordinator. Hutzler inherited Will Anderson Jr., Chris Braswell, and Dallas Turner in an incredibly talented outside linebacker room. He helped Anderson to 10 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, 12 quarterback hurries, a pass breakup, a blocked field goal, and an interception returned for a touchdown in 2022. Hutzler assisted Dallas Turner to four sacks, eight tackles for loss, and nine quarterback hurries as a sophomore. Braswell had 2.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries, and a forced fumble last year.
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Hutzler has helped Turner and Braswell become two of the nation’s most elite pass rushers this season. They combine for 17 sacks, 24 tackles for loss, and 18 quarterback hurries. Braswell has three forced fumbles, a blocked kick, and an interception returned for a touchdown. Hutzler has been an elite recruiter for the Tide, so losing him hurts when it comes to this class.
Coaches who have accepted different jobs normally stay with Alabama until the season ends. Alabama is in the College Football Playoff, and Hutzler has a chance to capture a CFP National Championship ring before he exits.
We will see what he does, but Hutzler is being finalized to be the Bulldogs’ next defensive play-caller.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
