When One Phase of the Transfer Portal Closes Another Begins for Alabama: All Things CW

The last former Crimson Tide player remaining in the transfer portal from last year announced where he'll play college football next.

The announcement was pretty straight forward. Elijah Brown, part of the Alabama football recruiting Class of 2022 as a consensus 4-star prospect at tight end, simply had the word "commitment" while wearing a Florida Atlantic jersey, smiling, with the Florida coastline as a background. 

His official stat line with the Crimson Tide was completely incomplete: No catches, no yards, no games played. The product from Wayne, Ohio, had the jersey No. 85 during his time in Tuscaloosa, which turned out to be a redshirt season. 

With that, the transfer portal for the 2022-23 academic year appeared to come to a close for the Crimson Tide. Brown was the last scholarship player who still had his name listed, and had only submitted it on April 17. He barely found his new football home ahead of wide receiver Tyler Harrell, who only a year after transferring in from Louisville is heading to the same area, although to Miami. He played in five games, with two catches for 18 yards. 

There aren't too many immediate conclusions that one can make about Alabama's transfer additions and subtractions from the portal this time around. Nick Saban only took in five, with tight end CJ Dippre and interior linebacker Trezmen Marshall participating in spring practices, and quarterback Tyler Buchner and defensive backs Trey Amos and Jaylen Key all signing on since A-Day. Obviously Buchner's getting the most attention due to his position and having working with new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees at Notre Dame. 

Blessed Beyond Measure 🙌🏾,Let’s Work 😈🤝🏾@Coach_TRob @Hayesfawcett3 @AlabamaFTBL #rtr 🐘🐘 #committed pic.twitter.com/6SMOesxIyv

— Jaylen Key (@Jaylen_Key) May 12, 2023

Meanwhile, the departures numbered roughly 20 over the course of the last calendar year, summer to summer, including three walk-on specialists. Javion Cohen was the lone established starter at guard, but was also getting a serious challenge from a younger player. He opted to join the Hurricanes as well. 

After Alabama's transfer-portal success during the previous two years, landing Jameson Williams and Henry To'oTo'o in 2021, and Tyler Steen, Jermaine Burton and Jahmyr Gibbs last year, there's a different feeling about this year's group. They aren't as flashy. They don't have huge reputations. They all fill a specific need, but also have serious competition at their respective positions. 

Another way to look at it is Alabama doesn't have the same gaping holes as the previous couple of years, like at left tackle in 2022, or at wide receiver a couple of years ago. In short, the Crimson Tide isn't as dire, which should be a good thing.  

Regardless, it looks like Alabama can move on to the next chapter regarding the transfer portal, which is not scheduled to reopen again until the end of the 2023 season, however players will start declaring their intentions well before then. The Crimson Tide usually has at least a couple of players depart over the summer, and this year will be no exception as Alabama is over the 85-man scholarship limit.

The breakdown, which is listed and continually updated in the 2023 Alabama Crimson Tide Eligibility Tracker will be as follows with summer arrivals: 

• Quarterbacks 5
• Running backs 5
• Wide receivers 12
• Tight ends 6
• Offensive linemen 13
• Defensive linemen 15
• Linebackers 15
• Defensive backs 16

It adds up to 41 offensive players, and 46 on the defensive side. Special teams players were not included. 

So Alabama already knows that more departures are looming, it's just a matter of time. But it's also why Saban grabbed the players he did. The 2023 teams has a well-rounded roster, albeit young. The additions were an effort to keep it that way. 

SEE ALSO: Nick Saban's 5 Targeted Areas for Alabama Improvement in 2023