Paul Finebaum evaluates what to make of Alabama transfer exodus

Since Nick Saban retired on Jan. 10, Alabama has lost 10 players to the transfer portal. The exodus includes three former five-stars: safety Caleb Downs, quarterback Julian Sayin and offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor.

While newly hired head coach Kalen DeBoer has already added a few pieces to soften the blow, Alabama certainly still feels its wounds. During an appearance on “McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning,” Paul Finebaum weighed in on the situation.

“It’s always alarming when you see marquee players walk out and it would be difficult to find a bigger name than Caleb Downs or Julian Sayin,” Finebaum said. “I understand the reaction. The problem I think about making any rash generalizations is we’re in the middle of this. Nobody knows exactly how it’s going to land and really what this roster is going to look like.”

Alabama fans don’t know what they will gain by fall, but they know what they lost this winter all too well. Downs was the SEC Freshman of the Year and the SEC Newcomer of the Year. Downs also earned first-team All-SEC honors. He became the first Alabama freshman to lead the team in tackles in program history with 107.

Unlike Downs, Sayin never played a snap for Alabama. Nonetheless, it hurts to watch potential walk out the door. The 6-foot-2 prospect was the No. 1 overall QB in the 2024 cycle, according to On3 Industry Rankings. He will join Downs at Ohio State.

Proctor isn’t heading to the Buckeyes, but he is joining the Big Ten. Proctor started 13 games at left tackle as a true freshman, earning All-SEC Freshman Team honors. On Jan. 20, he committed to Iowa. Although Alabama’s losses may look concerning to an outsider, Finebaum isn’t ready to hit the panic button.

“Everybody wants to know, ‘Is this a playoff team? Can this team win the national championship?'” Finebaum said. “I don’t think there’s an easy answer to any of that right now until the dust settles.

“I think something that’s been said — and will have to be said more times — we’re barely eight, nine, 10 days into this process. I think anybody who wants to declare anything is simply not using enough data.”

Alabama hasn’t only suffered losses since DeBoer took the reins. DeBoer already has added three former Washington players in the portal while restructuring the Crimson Tide’s staff with experienced talent. Only time will tell how things will shake out in Tuscaloosa.