Alabama lands commitment from Michigan transfer Keon Sabb

Michigan transfer defensive back Keon Sabb has committed to Alabama, he announced Monday night.

The Crimson Tide-driven NIL collective Yea Alabama initially reported he had enrolled at Alabama. He later made his announcement with On3’s Hayes Fawcett.

The former top-100 prospect and four-star recruit in the 2022 class opted to enter the portal after Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh left Ann Arbor for a shot at winning the Lombardi Trophy with the Los Angeles Chargers. His position coach, Jay Harbaugh, left for the NFL, too.

Sabb now heads to the SEC, joining the Crimson Tide in time for Year 1 of the Kalen DeBoer era. The 6-foot-1, 208-pound safety will now have his shot to earn a starting job. During his two seasons at Michigan, he played in 18 games and made a notable impact but never was the starting safety for the Wolverines.

He leaves Ann Arbor with 28 career tackles and one tackle for a loss, along with two interceptions, four pass breakups and six passes defended. He returned an interception for a touchdown against Minnesota. Michigan led the nation in total defense in 2023.

“Keon Sabb has gone straight to the top,” Harbaugh said in August ahead of the season. “Amazing player who has really come into his own. He did last year on special teams, but we didn’t play him enough. We didn’t play him enough, in my opinion, at safety. He’s gotten a ton of reps — starter-quality player, no question.”

With Makari Paige and Quinten Johnson out for the College Football Playoff national championship game against Washington, Sabb stepped up and graded out as Michigan’s top coverage defender. He allowed just three catches for 28 yards on seven targets. The sophomore also tallied two pass breakups. DeBoer got an up-close look of what Sabb brings to the table in the title game.

It’s a notable pickup for Alabama, which saw SEC Freshman of the Year and starting safety Caleb Downs enter the transfer following Nick Saban’s retirement. Safety Antonio Kite also transferred to Auburn.

Alabama now brings in reinforcements in Keon Sabb, who played a crucial role in Michigan’s win over Kalen DeBoer and Washington in the national title game.