Alabama football: Crimson Tide’s sneakiest 2024 transfer portal move after Kalen DeBoer hire

This marks the Crimson Tide’s most impressive and stealthy acquisition from the transfer portal. The beginning of the offseason for Alabama football has been anything but ordinary. Firstly, their long-standing head coach, Nick Saban, who is arguably the greatest of all time with nearly two decades of tenure, surprisingly retired, leading to the appointment of Kalen DeBoer from Washington.

This transition set off a chain reaction in college football, causing numerous coaching changes and consequently affecting team rosters as players were allowed to enter the transfer portal.

While Saban’s retirement wasn’t entirely unforeseen, it nonetheless caught everyone off guard. His departure left a significant void in college football, given his unprecedented success with seven national championships. Naturally, his retirement had repercussions, particularly in recruiting. Not only did prospective recruits back out of commitments, but current players also opted to transfer, including some key contributors from the 2023 season.

The change in coaching leadership saw a substantial turnover in players, with 30 outgoing transfers, including notable talents like Julian Sayin, Kadyn Proctor, and Caleb Downs. This marked the highest number of departures since 2022 for Alabama football.

Despite typically relying on their formidable roster and minimal reliance on the transfer portal due to their exceptional recruiting, Alabama still managed to secure talent. Their incoming class ranked 25th, with six transfers, including one three-star and five four-star recruits.

While the majority of transfers came from Washington, securing defensive lineman LT Overton from within the conference could be considered a shrewd move. Notably, Overton committed to Alabama prior to Saban’s retirement, indicating his commitment despite potential coaching changes.

Overton, a highly regarded four-star prospect from Texas A&M, brings significant potential to Alabama’s defensive line. With experience in 23 games and promising stats, his arrival could address some defensive challenges faced by Alabama in the previous season.

Transitioning from Texas A&M to Alabama not only offers Overton a change of scenery but also exposes him to a different football culture. This adjustment will be felt across the board, including by the coaching staff, under the new leadership of head coach Kane Wommack.