Alabama Tackle Enters Transfer Portal
The college football transfer portal window opened on Monday, Dec. 4. That's made for a busy month for coaches who are balancing recruiting and bowl preparation with roster management.
The sixth Alabama Crimson Tide football player has entered his name in the transfer portal in redshirt freshman offensive tackle Elijah Pritchett according to On3 Sports.
Pritchett was a 4-star recruit out of Columbus, Ga., in the class of 2022 according to the 247Sports Composite. He chose Alabama over Florida State out of high school.
The 6-foot-6, 312-pound, redshirt freshman offensive tackle saw action in all 13 regular season games for the Crimson Tide this season. He spent the season challenging, and rotating with, true freshman Kadyn Proctor for left tackle duties.
He saw his most action against the Arkansas Razorbacks, but also contributed to the Ole Miss and Mississippi State offensive efforts.
As a true freshman he appeared against Austin Peay and in the Sugar Bowl against Kansas State to maintain his redshirt status.
He becomes the Tide's first offensive lineman to enter the portal after quarterback Tyler Buchner, receivers Thaiu Jones-Bell and Ja'Corey Brooks and defensive lineman Isaiah Hastings and Anquin Barnes have already left the program via the portal.
The mammoth lineman will certainly be in high demand after almost winning the Tide's starting tackle position. His departure is a significant blow to Alabama's depth but the 2023 class was tackle rich, bringing in Proctor and 4-star prospects Wilkin Formby and Olaus Alinen.
Alabama will still have 12 scholarship linemen as Rose Bowl practice begins, but the Tide can also count on its 2024 class as all three lineman, Casey Poe, Joseph Ionata and Williams Sanders are enrolling for practice, giving Alabama 15 in total.
