The Crimson Tide will face a familiar face this weekend against South Carolina, as former Alabama defensive lineman Kelby Collins is set to make his return to Tuscaloosa as a Gamecock.
Collins spent just one season with the Tide in 2025, as the big man originally transferred to Alabama from Florida. The former Crimson Tide lineman flashed his potential on numerous occasions last season, but Collins ultimately decided to enter the portal and transferred to South Carolina as a result.
The senior recently took a moment to comment on facing his former team this weekend, as Collins claims he knows Crimson Tide quarterback Keelon Russell extremely well.
“That’s my guy. We were neighbors when I went there, so obviously I know a lot about him.” Collins said. “I know what he can do when he’s getting time, I know what he can do when he’s under pressure. So just helping the guys out as much as possible in the d-line room, giving them the tendencies that I recognized playing there.”
Collins recorded 12 total tackles, 3 TFL and 2 sacks over 14 appearances at Alabama in 2025. The Gamecocks defense as a whole could use Collins’ knowledge of Russell to their advantage entering the contest, but the unit will still need to contain the rising star both on the ground and through the air nonetheless.
