Jaylen Mbakwe calls out Alabama fans after returning to program

When Jaylen Mbakwe announced he intended to enter the NCAA transfer portal on Monday, some Alabama fans were not too happy. Mbakwe stayed with the Crimson Tide through a coaching change but less than a year later, was hitting the open market. Even though the paperwork never officially went through, social media was still set ablaze.

Less than 24 hours later, Mbakwe told On3’s Hayes Fawcett and Pete Nakos he would change course and not leave Tuscaloosa. People cheered for his return but Mbakwe felt the need to call some people out at the same time. He posted a clip of Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant doing a postgame interview.

“Tell them to stay on that side they was on,” Morant said in the clip. “We don’t want them over here no more.”

Mbakwe wants those who were upset with his planned departure to stay on “that side” since he is now coming back. Whether or not the true freshman wants those fans cheering for him moving forward, they will certainly be excited to get one of the program’s best young prospects back.

Cornerback is not the only position Mbakwe may be playing going forward either. Nakos reported Alabama could look at getting the first-year player some time on the offensive end. He originally was recruited as a wide receiver before Nick Saban wanted him to play cornerback.

Now, Kalen DeBoer and his staff are willing to let him potentially take snaps with the offense per Nakos. Potentially as early as the upcoming bowl game against Michigan.

“A source indicates to @On3sports that Jaylen Mbakwe is seeking some snaps on the offensive side of the ball, too,” Nakos said via X.

Mbakwe played high school football at Pinson (AL) Clay-Chalkville, where he was a Five-Star Plus+ prospect. He was the No. 16 overall recruit in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.