Nick Saban’s retirement from Alabama was bound to have an impact on the sport, no matter what. However, after
opting to stand down on Jan. 10, nine days after the Crimson Tide fell to Michigan in a College Football Playoff
national semifinal in the Rose Bowl Game, the program has been keeping an eye on player retention.
Since the announcement on January 19, ten Alabama players have joined the transfer portal, with safety Caleb
Downs, wide receiver Isaiah Bond, and offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor among the most notable departures.
Kalen DeBoer was promoted to one of the country’s top jobs after winning 25-3 in two years at Washington, which
included a trip to the CFP national championship game. It will be interesting to see how DeBoer, who has a 104-12
career head coaching record, handles the SEC recruiting situation.
The following is a chronological list of Alabama players who have entered the transfer portal since Saban’s statement
on January 10:
Bond, who has since transferred to Texas, was perhaps the most important reason Alabama made the College
Football Playoff in 2023. His 31-yard touchdown catch on fourth-and-goal versus Auburn lifted the Crimson Tide to
a 27-24 victory in the Iron Bowl. He led the club with 48 receptions, 668 yards, and four touchdowns.
Last season, Shawn Murphy played 13 games for Alabama and had three tackles (two solo). He finished 37th overall
in the 2022 ESPN 300 and was the cycle’s top inside linebacker.
Ricks, who ranked 19th in the 2023 ESPN 300 (No. 2 CB), redshirted the 2023 season. The IMG Academy product
was reclassified for the 2023 cycle on October 22, 2022, and signed with Alabama during the early signing period.
