By Mark Pszonak
With the retirement of head coach Nick Saban, Alabama players are immediately eligible to enter the transfer portal. Numerous players will be contacted by other schools with the hope that they make themselves available, but here are the five who will be the busiest in the coming weeks:
OL Kadyn Proctor
The skinny: Proctor, who was one of the top overall high school Class of 2023 recruits in the country, flourished during his freshman season with the Tide. He earned the starting job at left tackle during fall camp and maintained that role throughout the season. Starting left tackles are always a hot commodity in the transfer portal, which makes Proctor even more valuable considering he has at least two more seasons remaining at the college level.
Schools to watch: Iowa, Colorado, Michigan, Penn State, LSU, Miami-Florida, Florida State
S Caleb Downs
The skinny: Alabama has had a long list of elite defensive backs roll through Tuscaloosa in recent years, but Downs’ performance as a true freshman in 2023 ranks up amongst the best. Earning the starting strong safety spot, he became the first Alabama freshman to lead his team in tackles in program history dating back to at least 1970. His 107 tackles were also the most by a Tide freshman in the last 50-plus years.
Schools to watch: Georgia, Ohio State, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame
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LB Jihaad Campbell
The skinny: After seeing limited playing time in 2022 as a true freshman, Campbell burst onto the scene this season with 66 tackles, four tackles for a loss, two fumble recoveries, one interception and four pass breakups while starting eight games. He accomplished this after missing the season opener with an injury. Now he is positioned to be one of the defensive team leaders in 2024.
Schools to watch: Georgia, Florida, Texas A&M, LSU, Auburn
WR Isaiah Bond
The skinny: Bond made a favorable first impression as a true freshman in 2022 with 17 receptions for 220 yards and one touchdown. This season he became the leading receiver for the Tide with 48 receptions for 668 yards and four touchdowns. He is set for a breakout season in 2024.
Schools to watch: Florida, Miami-Florida, Texas, Auburn, Michigan
TE Amari Niblack
The skinny: Niblack became one of the surprises for the Tide in 2023 with 20 receptions for 327 yards and four touchdowns after grabbing only one reception during his 2022 true freshman season. While he has a tight end’s body, 6-foot-4, 233-pounds, he plays more like a wide receiver, which makes him a matchup nightmare for defenses.
Schools to watch: Florida State, Georgia, Miami-Florida, Florida, South Carolina
