Antoni Alfano Is a Big Get, But There Is a Red Flag

"The guy basically quit," Nick Saban said.

Antonio Alfano was the No. 1 player in the class of 2019. A 6-foot-4, 285 pound defensive end from Colonia, New Jersey, Alfano signed with Alabama, enrolled at the school and was on the football team during preseason camp. 

Now, he's transferring to Colorado. 

This is the first time CU has ever had the No. 1 player in any class. It's a huge grab for coach Mel Tucker, whose first season at Colorado is coming to a whimpering finish. 

But there is a reason to wonder if this is going to work out, and it's the same reason Alfano was available in the first place. 

“I just know that the guy basically quit,” Alabama coach Nick Saban told AL.com. “He quit going to class. He quit coming here. We tried to encourage him. We tried to help him. We had tried to set up counseling sessions with him to help him every way we could. … But he didn’t respond to any of the things, so until he responds, you just have to assume the guy quit.”

According to AL.com, Alfano entered the transfer portal in September, and quit going to classes, but hung around in Tuscaloosa while he figured out where to go next. 

Alfano and Tucker knew each other from Tucker's time at Georgia. Tucker recruited Alfano there, so the good news here is that there is a pre-existing relationship. 

Considering Alfano's ranking and the position he plays, this could be a program-changing moment for Tucker.

Assuming the guy sticks around.