Kalen DeBoer goes back to his old stomping grounds to land yet another commit at a position of need for the Crimson Tide
Alabama adds another key transfer on the defensive line to rebuild the trenches.
The transfer portal is closing in the coming days, and the Alabama Crimson Tide has seen its wins and losses this offseason.
Both sides of the trenches have changed quite a bit this offseason. Alabama is looking to get back to its brand of football on defense, and that starts up front. It will be a completely new defensive line next season, but maybe a reset that was needed.
Alabama landed one more key addition up front from head coach Kalen DeBoer’s old home, with defensive lineman Caleb Smith signing with the Crimson Tide. Smith is also coming back home as a Birmingham, Alabama native.
Alabama lands DL Caleb Smith from the transfer portal
There was no reason to watch Alabama’s defensive line struggle as much as it did, especially stopping the run at the end of the season.
Hopefully, the makeover on the defensive line will be exactly what the defense needed. Smith was just a freshman this year, and he ended up redshirting, so Alabama will be able to have him around for a while. I reached out to A to Z Sports writer Rob Gregson to ask why Smith’s commitment is important for the Crimson Tide.
“The Crimson Tide has undergone a makeover in the trenches. As a team source told A to Z Sports, ‘building the trenches back up is a must for 2026.’ Well, Alabama has proven that on both sides of the ball, but especially along the defensive front.
“A unit that will have three new starters in 2026 following the departures of James Smith, LT Overton, and Tim Keenan, the Crimson Tide hasn’t been shy about adding replacements. Alabama has now landed Devan Thompkins, Kedrick Bingley-Jones, and Caleb Smith. The Crimson Tide is focused on getting back to stopping the run and being able to run the football in 2026, and so far, the team’s portal additions bring Alabama one step closer to doing that in 2026.” – Rob Gregson, A to Z Sports Alabama
Alabama adds one trait that was missing this season
If there’s one thing Alabama needed to add in the transfer portal, it was size. That’s exactly what they did with Smith at 6-5, 270 pounds, Thompkins at 6-5, 285 pounds, and Bingley-Jones at 6-4, 320 pounds. The defensive line will also be versatile up front, with multiple players able to move around different spots due to their unique speed and size.
Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack has a lot of new faces to work with this offseason, but also has some key players returning like Bray Hubbard. The Crimson Tide has to get back to being dominant on defense, and that starts with a new-look defensive line causing havoc up front.
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