Alabama’s search for a wide receiver in the transfer portal heats up following surprise decision from Crimson Tide pass catcher
Alabama lost a key starter in the wide receiver room, but not in the way anyone expected after Isaiah Horton entered the transfer portal.
The Alabama Crimson Tide roster continues to get a complete makeover this offseason with multiple additions and departures to the transfer portal. Changes were needed, however, and expect a completely different-looking roster for 2026.
A lot of Alabama’s losses have been expected, but there’s always a select few surprises that nobody sees coming. The offense has already had a ton of turnover, which was expected, but it just lost wide receiver Isaiah Horton as well, and not in the way that anyone thought would happen by entering the transfer portal.
Isaiah Horton went the route nobody expected
People have been waiting on players to officially declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, like Ty Simpson and Parker Brailsford already have, and Horton was next. It was either return to Alabama or take advantage of this past season and go into the draft, and he chose neither of those two. I asked A to Z Sports Alabama writer, Rob Gregson, for his immediate reaction to the head-scratching news.
“The loss of Isaiah Horton is not surprising. What is surprising, however, is the way that Horton left. If he was going to leave, the common thought was that it would be for the NFL Draft. Instead, Horton leaves Alabama for the transfer portal. This puts even more pressure on Alabama to make a significant move in the portal now. We have sourced the Crimson Tide’s interest and efforts in the WR position, and now, Cam Coleman and others take center stage. The return of Rico Scott lessens this impact, but Alabama only has two proven players back in that WR corps with Lotzeir Brooks and Ryan Williams. With Germie Bernard, Ty Simpson, and Isiaiah Horton all out of the picture, it’s safe to say that Alabama’s passing attack will look very different in 2026.” – Rob Gregson, A to Z Sports Alabama
Horton had a team-high eight touchdowns this season and was expected to return with a huge role as the experienced wide receiver in the room, or get a high enough grade for the NFL Draft. Now, Alabama needs to pivot and put whatever money it was going to give to Horton into other targets in the transfer portal.
Alabama needs wide receivers more than ever
Getting Scott back was huge, but Alabama’s wide receiver room is still very young. Horton and Bernard were both veteran players who made huge plays all season long, and they’ll be hard to replace. Obviously, Coleman is the prized possession in the transfer portal right now, and Alabama may need to raise its price to land him now. Alabama has also been linked to other pass catchers, such as Mylan Graham, Malcolm Simmons, and has just offered Tony Diaz.
Alabama only has five wide receivers on the roster if you include true freshman Cedarian Morgan, and it desperately needs bodies and experience, if possible. Expect more wide receivers to look at Alabama as a great landing spot in the transfer portal in the upcoming weeks, unless Horton pulls a Scott and changes his mind to return to the Crimson Tide.
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