Alabama football: 2023 second window transfer portal tracker

The first college football transfer portal window — which was 45 days starting on Dec. 5 — ended back in mid-January. Then, the second window — consisting of a 15-day period from April 15-30 — also came and went. Now, we have a final look at where all the former Alabama players who entered the portal during those windows ended up.

The Crimson Tide saw 14 scholarship players enter the transfer portal during the first window. Of those, 11 were on offensive guys with the other three coming on defense.

TE Elijah Brown

On3 HS ranking (2022): 4-star / No. 252 overall / No. 11 TE

Date announced: April 17, 2023

New school: FAU Owls

Commitment date: May 15, 2023

Story: Alabama TE Elijah Brown enters NCAA transfer portal

Quick thoughts on Brown entering the portal: Brown is the first Alabama player to enter the transfer portal since the second window opened on Saturday (April 15). His decision, while unfortunate, shouldn’t come as a shock to fans though. Brown has talent, but the former four-star had fallen behind almost all of the other tight ends on the roster.

Nick Saban said following Alabama’s second spring scrimmage that the “whole [tight end] group has really made a lot of improvement.” Despite missing Robbie Ouzts this spring, several others have stepped up, including the other two tight ends Alabama signed during the 2022 cycle (Danny Lewis and Amari Niblack).

I’m sure Brown won’t have any trouble finding a new home.

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WR Tyler Harrell

On3 HS ranking (2018): 3-star / No. 862 overall / No. 143 WR

Date announced: Jan. 14, 2023

New school: Miami Hurricanes

Commitment date: May 12, 2023

Story: Alabama WR Tyler Harrell enters NCAA transfer portal

Quick thoughts on Harrell entering the portal: Honestly, I see both sides of Harrell’s decision to enter the portal. On one hand, where did he see himself fitting into the rotation in 2023? Yes, Alabama has lost several other receivers to the transfer portal, but there’s still a lot of returning talent.

Right now, I see six who are almost a lock for playing time.

Ja’Corey Brooks and Jermaine Burton (assuming he returns) are the two veterans of the group. But three true freshmen — Isaiah Bond, Kobe Prentice and Kendrick Law — all got significant playing time in Year 1. That’s five guys. Plus, top JUCO talent Malik Benson should be an immediate impact player.

I would’ve loved to have seen what Harrell could’ve done had he not gotten hurt, but he did.

That created opportunities for others, and those guys took advantage. But with that being said, the other reported issue was the playbook and offensive system. Those things take time for almost everyone, but now Harrell will have to go through that process again at another school. Hopefully, he’ll be able to stay healthy.

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DB Tre’Quon Fegans

On3 HS ranking (2022): 4-star / No. 141 overall / No. 17 CB

Date announced: April 19, 2023

New school: USC Trojans

Commitment date: May 7, 2023

Story: Alabama CB Tre’Quon Fegans enters NCAA transfer portal

Quick thoughts on Fegans entering the portal: Fegans now makes the second defensive back in as many days to enter the portal. Similar to Robinson, the former Thompson (Ala.) standout was buried on the depth chart, but at the same time, the secondary depth chart is beginning to get a little thin with only 12 scholarship players remaining.

That’s the main impact of this loss, as we hadn’t heard anything about Fegans making a push for playing time. Some Alabama fans will wonder how this decision impacts the recruitment of his brother (Anquon Fegans), but Tre’Quon is searching for a better opportunity for playing time, and in Tuscaloosa, it wasn’t going to come anytime soon.

After redshirting this past season, Fegans will have four years of eligibility remaining.

DB Jahquez Robinson

On3 HS ranking (2020): 4-star / No. 362 overall / No. 34 CB

Date announced: April 18, 2023

New school: Colorado Buffaloes

Commitment date: April 29, 2023

Story: Alabama DB Jahquez Robinson enters NCAA transfer portal

Quick thoughts on Robinson choosing Colorado: It took a little over a week, but Robinson ultimately landed where many expected he would when he entered the transfer portal earlier this month. He didn’t get a lot of playing experience at Alabama, but he did spent three seasons learning under Nick Saban, who favors defensive backs.

Obviously, that experience will benefit Deion Sanders at Colorado.

Not only will Robinson help the Buffaloes out on special teams, but he’ll also compete for a starting job. Granted, Colorado has other talent out on the perimeter of its defense. Travis Hunter is a two-way player who will start at one spot. Meanwhile, 2023 five-star Cormani McClain is expected to earn a starting job as a freshman.

Robinson could provide an experienced option to compete with McClain, but I doubt it.

With former Alabama safeties coach Charles Kelly as the new defensive coordinator in Boulder, Robinson could also see time at the Star position or at safety. That said, Arkansas transfer Myles Slusher is the projected starter inside, and Jackson State transfer Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig is likely to start at one of the safety spots.

It’ll be interesting to see how and where Robinson fits in. He’s the second Alabama player to choose Colorado after former linebacker Demouy Kennedy committed back in February. Hopefully, he’ll get the playing time he desires.

Quick thoughts on Robinson entering the portal: Robinson has been a part of the Alabama program for three seasons. And yet, he’s only played 27 snaps on defense, all of which came in 2022. Nick Saban gave Robinson praise during fall camp last year, but that praise didn’t translate to playing time. Surprisingly, Robinson will have three years of eligibility remaining.

He arrived in 2020, which counted as a free season. Then, he only saw action in one game in 2021, which counted as his redshirt. That technically makes him a redshirt sophomore this season (even though he’s listed as a redshirt junior on the roster). I’m guessing he’ll be a sought after commodity despite his limited playing time in Tuscaloosa.

Keep an eye on Colorado.

Other Alabama players who landed somewhere during the first portal window: LB Demouy Kennedy (Colorado); OL Damieon George (Florida); WR Christian Leary (Georgia Tech); RB Trey Sanders (TCU); OL Amari Kight (UCF); OL Tommy Brockermeyer (TCU); WR Aaron Anderson (LSU); OL Javion Cohen (Miami); CB Khyree Jackson (Oregon); WR JoJo Earle (TCU); WR Traeshon Holden (Oregon); DL Braylen Ingraham (Syracuse); OL Tanner Bowles (Kentucky)

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