The NCAA transfer portal is going crazy before National Signing Day and bowl season for college football.
Some of the most significant playmakers — regardless of position — are in the portal.
RELATED: Texas A&M Edge transfer visiting Alabama this weekend
Nick Saban, Alabama’s head coach, warned the nation about what the portal would do to the sport, but he also said he would use it. The Crimson Tide has pulled marquee names from the portal, including Landon Dickerson, Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, Eli Ricks, and Henry To’oto’o. It witnessed success with having Jermaine Burton, Trezmen Marshall, Jaylen Key, Trey Amos, and CJ Dippre too. Alabama could be looking at a specific positional unit in the portal for next season. The Tide is losing Justin Eboigbe, a veteran defensive lineman, to the National Football League. Young names such as Anquin Barnes and Isaiah Hastings have pursued the transfer portal. Alabama could also have other linemen choose the portal after the College Football Playoff.
Coach Saban loves to add experienced depth and the defensive line is a position of need for the Tide.
Alabama has two defensive line commits for 2024, Jeremiah Beamon (four-star) and Isaia Faga (four-star). Saban will make use of the portal to add more linemen. Justin Smith, the Director of Scouting and Recruiting for Touchdown Alabama Magazine, confirmed with Fadil Diggs that he’s visiting Alabama football this weekend. Diggs, an edge rusher for Texas A&M, is in the transfer portal. The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder came to the Aggies as a four-star and is a junior on TAMU’s roster. He finished this season with 36 total tackles and four sacks. Diggs sacked Jalen Milroe twice in Texas A&M’s matchup at home versus Alabama.
LT Overton was in Jimbo Fisher’s top-ranked 2022 recruiting class for Texas A&M.
He played in 19 career games, but now Overton is in the portal. The 6-foot-5, 265-pounder can stop the run and presents athleticism to pressure quarterbacks. He had 31 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, and five quarterback hurries during his freshman season. Overton totaled 17 tackles and three quarterback hurries this season.
Walter Nolan is in the transfer portal as a former Texas A&M defensive lineman.
He was an impressive freshman in 2022 with 29 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack, a quarterback hurry, and a forced fumble.
Nolan recorded 37 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, and a pass breakup this season.
Alabama may be active in the portal for defensive linemen, but we will see what Saban does.
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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.
