Alabama wide receiver Isaiah Bond was the first player to enter the transfer portal following the retirement of head coach Nick Saban. Bond entered the portal on Friday and the Crimson Tide would find its new head coach in Kalen DeBoer later that day.
Following a visit over the weekend, Bond announced that he committed to Texas.
In an interview with ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Bond described his choice to leave Alabama as a business decision.
“Just like the business world, you make the best decision for your company,” Bond said to Thamel. “My company right now is my draft stock. I feel like I’m putting myself in position to increase that and have better draft stock.”
Bond did say his decision to leave Alabama was directly tied to Saban’s retirement.
“One hundred percent,” Bond said. “That was the decision why I left.”
Thamel’s report noted that DeBoer did reach out to him after becoming the new head coach but was not able to get back to him.
Bond will now join former Alabama assistant Steve Sarkisian with the Longhorns along with a highly touted offense led by quarterback Quinn Ewers. Sarkisian recruited Bond hard out of high school to get him to Texas, and now the Longhorns have a roster ready to fire on all cylinders.
“I like the whole package that comes with it,” Bond said on Texas. “Great quarterback, they have a great offensive line. I felt like it was a great spot.”
The true junior led the Crimson Tide in receiving this past season who finished the year with 48 receptions for 688 yards and four touchdowns. One of those scores was the legendary “Gravedigger” play on 4th and 31 to beat Auburn in the Iron Bowl.
Although Bond will be moving on to a now rival SEC program, he told ESPN that his decision was not personal.
“It was really a business decision,” Bond said. “I’m not taking any hatred in my heart. Nothing personal. I’m going to do what’s best for me and my family.”
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
