Alabama football and the rest of college football will go undoubtedly go shopping in the transfer portal with the window opening on Tuesday.
Which position groups will the Crimson Tide target?
There are two for sure Kalen DeBoer has gone on record to talk about. Those positions are along the offensive line and in the secondary.
“In the defensive backfield, we are probably a guy short,” DeBoer said. “Offensive line, we are probably a guy short. We will take a look and evaluate, but you never know there might be some guys from our roster that may surprise us as well. We just have to continue to be fluid, be ready to adjust, and continue to keep our eyes open on what’s out there when that time comes.”
Alabama’s offensive line was one of the strong points of its spring game showing last Saturday. They helped pave the way for some explosive runs against the Tide’s defense and allowed Alabama’s quarterbacks to make some impressive throws with time in the pocket. Alabama lost three of its starting offensive linemen from last season with JC Latham headed to the NFL, Seth McLaughlin transferring to Ohio State and Kadyn Proctor transferring to Iowa. Fortunately for the Tide, all signs point to Proctor returning to Tuscaloosa in the future as he is expected to enter the portal during this window. Proctor will add depth and experience to this group if he officially returns.
Alabama’s secondary is also a spot of concern after spring football. The Tide lost a good bit of its production on the backend with Kool-Aid McKinstry, Terrion Arnold and Jaylen Key headed to the NFL. Caleb Downs choosing to transfer was also a significant blow to Alabama along with some of the depth it lost with Trey Amos, Kristian Story and Jake Pope opting to transfer to other programs. The Tide’s current secondary is a mix of experienced and really young players. If there is a defensive back in the transfer portal with experience who can make an immediate impact and fit Kane Wommack’s scheme, expect Alabama to make a push, especially if it is a cornerback.
The other position group Alabama could give some attention to is wide receiver. There is a lot of potential in Alabama’s wide receiver room. Unfortunately, there is not much proven experience in the room. Kobe Prentice returns as the most experienced wideout along with Kendrick Law, who has yet to really break out as a playmaker. Germie Bernard was a nice addition to the portal, and he could prompt them to look in the portal agin this spring. Ryan Williams and Amari Jefferson will be welcomed additions this summer, but in the meantime, Alabama could be on the lookout for another wideout.
