Evaluating the impact of 'plug-and-play' Alabama transfers Isaiah Bond, Amari Niblack at Texas

Texas added another pair of major offensive transfers from Alabama this offseason in WR Isaiah Bond and TE Amari Niblack. With them down on The 40 Acres now, On3’s Cody Bellaire sees them slotting in perfectly for the Longhorns.

Bellaire spoke about the duo as two of the nation’s most impactful portal players on Friday during ‘Andy Staples On3.’ He gave all the credit to Texas’ coaches for adding them considering how well they’ll each slide into the respective roles at their positions left by two players from last season’s offense.

“Hat tip to that Texas staff because, when you talk about the type of player you’re looking at? Isaiah Bond is a borderline clone from a physical, technical skillset at the wide receiver position as Xavier Worthy. Like, that is an automatic plug-and-play,” said Bellaire. “They’re going to play the same type of role. They’re going to be vertical stretchers that essentially threaten defenses every time they step up to the line of scrimmage. You look at a guy like Amari Niblack and compare him to Ja’Tavion Sanders? It’s, again, the same type of deal where you say this is a flex tight end that’s going to kill teams in the slot. He’s a mismatch for defenses.

“You have to account for these guys because they will torture you in the seam and up the middle of the field,” Bellaire continued. “Both? I mean, again, kudos to this staff. You couldn’t – I don’t know if you could draw up more similar players stylistically, especially out of the portal, then you can Isaiah Bond and Amari Niblack.”

Staples agreed on the importance of both additions for Texas from the transfer portal.

“Texas really needed these guys,” Staples concurred.

It’s only that much more ironic because each came from the same school as their new head coach. However, former program doesn’t matter when you have a chance to pick up perfect portal pieces like he did.

“With the player pool being what the player pool is in the portal, the fact that you were able to find two guys not only that fit your former players that you just lost but the fact that they’re at the same school? It’s one that you have recent history with? I mean you’ve got to take advantage of that,” said Bellaire. “Like, if somebody puts a baseball on a tee and you don’t take a hack for the fences? You messed up. This is borderline a (batting practice), soft-toss down the middle of the plate for Sark. I think he hit a home run if I’m being honest with you.”

Bond arrives in Austin after a pair of seasons at Alabama where he appeared in 26 games. In those outings, he caught 65 passes for 888 yards and five touchdowns. 48 receptions, 668 yards, and four scores came last year as their leading receiver as a sophomore, including The Gravedigger in their win in The Iron Bowl.

As for Niblack, he too spent two years at ‘Bama with 24 games played. During his time in Tuscaloosa, he caught 21 passes for 342 yards and five touchdowns. Basically all of that also came this past season with him being third in receiving as their top tight end with 20 catches for 327 yards and four scores.

Both Bond and Niblack were four-star, Top-100 signees for Alabama in the 2022 cycle. Now, each are Top-40 overall transfers per On3’s 2024 Transfer Portal Top Players. Bond ranked at No. 7 as the No. 2 WR behind only Evan Stewart (Oregon). Meanwhile, Niblack rated slightly lower at No. 34 but was the No. 1 TE.

Bond in place of Worthy and Niblack in place of Sanders is about as good as Texas could have done as far as replacements go. Bellaire sees it that way too with what he expects them to do this fall in the Longhorns’ pass game.

“These guys are plug-and-plays types of pass catchers that I think can make an impact almost immediately for this Texas offense,” said Bellaire.