Kalen DeBoer and Alabama fans gets terrible Transfer Portal news, but it might actually be for the best
The Alabama Crimson Tide just keep on losing players to Transfer Portal and the 2025 NFL Draft. Kalen DeBoer's first season didn't exactly go like most Alabama fans hoped it would. Missing the College Football Playoff. Losing in their bowl game. Finishing 9-4 on the season, the worst record since Nick Saban's first year with […]
The Alabama Crimson Tide just keep on losing players to Transfer Portal and the 2025 NFL Draft. Kalen DeBoer's first season didn't exactly go like most Alabama fans hoped it would. Missing the College Football Playoff. Losing in their bowl game. Finishing 9-4 on the season, the worst record since Nick Saban's first year with the Crimson Tide back in 2007. And now, yet another player is heading to the Transfer Portal.
Starting Alabama offensive tackle Elijah Pritchett announced that he would be entering the Transfer Portal late on Saturday following Alabama's disappointing loss to Michigan earlier in the week. Pritchett played in 13 games for over 600 snaps on the year for Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide.
On the surface, losing another key contributor to the Transfer Portal isn't great. Pritchett stepped up out of necessity in year one of Kalen DeBoer's tenure and started the season strong, at least in pass protection. However, this news might not be as bad as Alabama fans and critics think.
Pritchett struggled significantly over the final seven games of the season for Alabama, surrendering four sacks attributed to him and 21 total pressures (according to multiple charting services). That's a pretty rough finish to the season for any offensive tackle, let alone one who plays for Alabama.
Losing Pritchett definitely hurts the team's depth at offensive line, but given all the talent Alabama returns, who they will be bringing in via the Transfer Portal, plus their freshman recruiting, Pritchett may not actually have started for Kalen DeBoer in 2025.
Yes, Tyler Booker has already declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, so missing his presence at left guard will hurt. However, as of this writing, Jaeden Roberts the team's right guard has not declared for the draft. And he was dinged up in Alabama's final game. He may return.
Plus, Alabama returns one of the best centers in the nation in Parker Brailsford and former five star Kadyn Proctor at left tackle who improved greatly in 2024. The team certainly isn't without offensive line talent already.
On top of all the returning talent, Kalen DeBoer has already secured two offensive line transfers and has the second highest ranked high school recruiting class in the 2025 cycle. That stacked 2025 freshman class includes offensive lineman like five star Ty Haywood, five star Michael Carroll, top tier four star Jackson Lloyd, and two other strong four stars.
While losing a starting offensive tackle isn't ideal, Elijah Pritchett wasn't exactly a strong option that fit the typical Alabama standard. Kalen DeBoer is filling out the depth to replace him already, so fans shouldn't be too alarmed as it might just be for the best after all.
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