Alabama Crimson Tide and Kalen DeBoer to target offensive players via Transfer Portal after lackluster A-Day performance?
The Alabama coaching staff finally offered some clarity on the quarterback situation this week, with Ty Simpson being the clear leader right now. Then Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb took it one step further stating the team wasn't planning on looking to the portal at the quarterback position at all either.However, the team […]
The Alabama coaching staff finally offered some clarity on the quarterback situation this week, with Ty Simpson being the clear leader right now. Then Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb took it one step further stating the team wasn't planning on looking to the portal at the quarterback position at all either.
However, the team does have a few remaining likely roster spots to be had heading into the summer. So with the Transfer Portal open again (April 16-25), which players should Alabama target? Should it be all offense players considering how A-Day and other spring practices have gone? And what positions need it most?
Transfer Wide Receiver Targets
Alabama should have a strong trio of wide receivers if they all remain healthy. Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard, and Miami transfer Isaiah Horton give the Tide one of the most formidable starting receiver groups in college football. However, as demonstrated this past weekend at A-Day, and apparently throughout this spring, there are major questions at wide receiver outside the top few options.
The team lost six wide receivers to the Transfer Portal this offseason, so it's no surprise there are depth issues there, but things aren't looking great. Jaylen Mbakwe converted from defensive back before the bowl game last season. Jalen Hale could be intriguing, but he's returning from significant injury. Rico Scott has been shut down and blanketed this spring, and was again this past Saturday.
So, where should Alabama turn? They just got their answer on Tuesday in Trebor Pena of Syracuse. Pena is expected to enter the Transfer Portal this week and he's coming off a year where he caught 84 receptions for 941 yards and nine touchdowns.
It might be tough to pull Pena given the proven trio Alabama already has on the team, but he offers the perfect plug-and-play skill set for Kalen DeBoer's system. He ran a ton out of the slot last season, which is his specialty, but he's won from every receiver position throughout his long college career.
Pena could help Alabama's scheme have zero weak spots when and if they go four-wide. He could step in for either Ryan Williams or Germie Bernard on any given play and offer little drop off (if any) in the route running department. This should be a no-brainer high priority target for Alabama.
If the Tide don't target Pena, or miss out on him after an attempted addition, the team could look at Andy Jean. Jean is a former Florida Gators wide receiver who is looking for a new home this spring after things didn't work out with Pitt this offseason.
Transfer Running Back Targets
The Alabama rushing attack was absolutely awful in 2024 for Crimson Tide standards outside of quarterback Jalen Milroe. Yes, Milroe could fix a lot of things with his legs (he did score 20 touchdowns), but Alabama won't have that kind of quarterback this year. They'll need multiple running backs to step up, and they just lost their best one (Justice Haynes) to Michigan this offseason.
Jam Miller is the clear RB1 for Alabama this year, but outside of him the Crimson Tide's next most productive returning rusher last season Richard Young only saw 27 carries. The team did already add Dre Washington from Louisiana, but there are too many good running backs now available in the spring portal not to try and grab one.
The best potential transfer target out there right now could perhaps even push Jam Miller for the role at lead back. Who is that RB? It's Jaydn Ott from California.
Jaydn Ott posted back to back 1200+ yard seasons with double digit touchdowns for California in 2022 and 2023 prior to him struggling with injuries all last fall (extremely limiting his production). Now that he's healthy and headed to the Transfer Portal, Ott will be the number one target at running back for every team in the nation. Alabama needs to prioritize this if they want to support Ty Simpson at quarterback with a strong run game in 2025.
If Alabama can't pull Ott in, both TJ Harden (of UCLA) and Anthony Carrie (of Georgia Tech) are still out there and available at the moment. Harden was quite productive two years in a row at UCLA (1800+ yards from scrimmage in that span). Carrie was a long-time target of Alabama on the recruiting trail prior to his college career.
Transfer Tight End Target
It might seem strange that all three positions Alabama "should" target this spring are offensive skill players, but that's just where the team is right now. The defense has dominated much of the action that's been made available this spring, and for good reason. They're simply just deeper on that side of the ball.
Both of Alabama's lead tight ends from a year ago left for the 2025 NFL Draft (CJ Dippre and Robbie Ouzts), so the inexperience is very real for this position group. There are not a ton of experienced tight ends on the transfer market right now either, but the team should still target at least one specific option in Davon Mitchell from Oklahoma.
Davon Mitchell is a monster of a man at the position who was apparently carrying 275 pounds this spring in camp for the Oklahoma Sooners. He's a thick, strong, willing blocker who was also an explosive receiving option as a recruit. Alabama was pursuing him hard on the recruiting trail prior to his Oklahoma commitment as well. He could immediately upgrade the athleticism and depth of the tight end room, possibly providing another receiving weapon too.
We'll be back with more Alabama Crimson Tide coverage here at A to Z Sports soon! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!
If you want to check out why Jaydn Ott should be the most highly coveted running back in the spring Transfer Portal window just watch some of his highlights in the video below!
