🏈 2026 Alabama Roster Management Chart and Portal news

[AirForceBamaFan]

Nick used to say the last 20 of your 85 scholly players were very important. JMO those days are history. Bama has to get 55-60 good players and the rest will be practice players. Injuries could ruin a season going forward due to numbers.

Why do players enter the portal? Money
#71 left A&M why? Money
Why didn't A&M with all that money just meet his request? Because he wasn't a great player and didn't need him
#71 comes to Bama and starts some games, replaced by #56 and #70.

There is a story behind each player leaving. Money or playing time. Neither bodes really well for the receiving team. Careful about what you wish for and get upset over when the Money player goes elsewhere.

JMO but Bama fans should be more concerned about the coaching product we have vs the players selecting another school over Bama.

I saw a Bama offensive team that for the most part never got better after the 1st 5-6 games. That could all be because of #15 was injured. That explains Ty but what about all the rest? Did you see players giving their 110% effort?

 

[TerryP]

If you look at the portal chatter I'd say we are behind at this point.

Honestly, why pay attention to portal chatter when the majority are just speculating? There are 100's upon 100's of players who have no clue where they will play next season: or if they even will.

The portal closes Friday. If you want to see how Bama did in the portal, a week from today will give us the opportunity to write the preface. Nothing more.

I'll tell you what I find weird here. A few years ago the mantra was "wait until they sign before making a judgement on this incoming class. We don't know who will be in it yet."

And today it's all about judging a portal class when the portal is still open and it's not over. All I see is self inflicted anxiety for something that hasn't happened.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

I am more interested in the reason our guys left. Was it more money or the staff didn't believe they could be good players at Bama whether it was talent of attitude.

What are we getting in return for those that left? Players that left other programs for the very reasons our players departed?

JMO but I would have a crew working hard on FCS Division one talent HOPING to find talent that really wants to be coached and prove they can play with the big boys all the while getting a pay upgrade.

You ask why these players are at FCS 1 instead of the big boys? Possible coaches missed on evaluations just like they did on these 70 players that have left Bama in these past two years. Good news for those is they get to keep their 4* clippings.

 

[TerryP]

I am more interested in the reason our guys left. Was it more money or the staff didn't believe they could be good players at Bama whether it was talent of attitude.

It's safe to say both can be true; are true. The last sentence there? Look at Ha Ha's comments on X as a starting point.

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This is purely my speculation.

A&M can pay the #2 RG more than Bama is willing. I believe we'll see them carry a larger roster than Bama. On the same note, while Bama is carrying a smaller roster they'll be able to pay the contributors market value. Simple economics, right? Cut the size of the pool of players and you'll be able to play each one more.

Frankly, I think your interest in why may be misplaced. No. Not misplaced. A waste of time fits this more snuggly.

You are wondering what the reasons are they are leaving. They are wondering what reasons there are to stay. "Alumni" is continuing to lose its value among athletes. I know you won't argue we live on another planet than these kids today.

Two planets can't have common ground.

 

[TerryP]

Two planets can't have common ground.

Is this philosophical? Stomp, ledge, Tim?

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

It's safe to say both can be true; are true. The last sentence there? Look at Ha Ha's comments on X as a starting point.

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This is purely my speculation.

A&M can pay the #2 RG more than Bama is willing. I believe we'll see them carry a larger roster than Bama. On the same note, while Bama is carrying a smaller roster they'll be able to pay the contributors market value. Simple economics, right? Cut the size of the pool of players and you'll be able to play each one more.

Frankly, I think your interest in why may be misplaced. No. Not misplaced. A waste of time fits this more snuggly.

You are wondering what the reasons are they are leaving. They are wondering what reasons there are to stay. "Alumni" is continuing to lose its value among athletes. I know you won't argue we live on another planet than these kids today.

Two planets can't have common ground.

Oh, I agree with you on the planets. My take has always been that the donors are going to rally and send the bucks for now but when the end results are 8-4 or 9-3 years then they will just stop and keep their money. It's going to happen at most schools. The rich folks will keep on.

 

[TerryP]

Oh, I agree with you on the planets. My take has always been that the donors are going to rally and send the bucks for now but when the end results are 8-4 or 9-3 years then they will just stop and keep their money. It's going to happen at most schools. The rich folks will keep on.

We're on the same planet albeit different zip codes. I agree it's about the donors but I've seen it more on where they spend their money. Is it facilities? NIL? Academics? I've said since day one it is a zero sum game. It's going somewhere, but where?

This is one of the main reasons I haven't been able to muster sympathy for those who had their seats in BDS moved. Without the influx of that corporatate money the athletic department will be second tier. Now, the others schools in the conference will likely find themselves falling to the third tier. (I'd argue we're starting to see that with Arkansas. Their latest improvements to the facilities, stadium specifically here, was truly "lipstick on a pig.")

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

I know nothing but many spout that the increase of the student enrolled is some small way or large is tied to the football program. If that were true and the football success starts to level out there has been so much money spent on student housing on campus that someone will get stuck with a huge bill. I would think that would take some time to occur if at all.

 

[TerryP]

I know nothing but many spout that the increase of the student enrolled is some small way or large is tied to the football program.

It does. I've seen it happen on more than one occasion.

Example: UoSC fans were giddy when they hired Holtz and they saw their enrollment surge. Little did they know they hadn't seen anything yet. Spurrier was a windfall to UofSC in a similar fashion that Saban was with UA and our enrollment numbers.

(Good point to bring up. It'll be interesting to see what happens with IU. And that school is already HUGE.)

 

[TerryP]

Point of clarification. Kids can still leave programs after Friday. The deadline there is seven, eight, maybe nine days from next Friday. I'd have to look it up to be sure.

 

[footballer]

Often times star evaluations don't mean very much. With the way Indiana plays, a person would think their team is chocked full of 4 and 5 star players. Nah. High star rating didn't get them where they are. Lower star quality, coached up the right way got them to where they are today. Top quality teaching at practice, coaching in games, work ethic, discipline, desire, heart and other unrateable intangibles have them playing for the championship.

 

[Justneedme81]

 

[Justneedme81]

 

[Justneedme81]

 

[TerryP]

With the way Indiana plays, a person would think their team is chocked full of 4 and 5 star players.

It was a team chocked full of blue chip players. They weren't rated that way coming out of high school. I don't know what Mendoza's ranking was as a prep. When Cig got him he'd been with the Cal program for three years. He no longer was a two/three star signee.

I hadn't considered this until this morning. If you follow how the services rank these kids you're probably going to get a more accurate ranking on the stars awarded players in the portal than you are the stars awarded to players coming out of high school. It was one of the more entertaining graphics that ran around this season: the number of blue chips in each program. Those numbers/rankings were true three years ago.

And, even with the portal likely being more accurate, those services still don't have the time to accurately rank 1000's of kids in a short period.

 

[TerryP]

He could be an AA in '27 if they could get two years from him. He hasn't been playing on the line very long.

 

[musso]

First, Ball St. Now Cal Poly. Not all recruiting news is worth reporting haha.

 

[Justneedme81]

First, Ball St. Now Cal Poly. Not all recruiting news is worth reporting haha.

............................ Well.. Might want to check Ole miss Qb and see where he came from.

 

[musso]

............................ Well.. Might want to check Ole miss Qb and see where he came from.

Please everyone knows 200-lb skill guys can play anywhere. We’re talking IOL here. Get out of here with empty retorts.

 

[bamafan9201]

He could be an AA in '27 if they could get two years from him. He hasn't been playing on the line very long.

I talked about him during his recruitment a lot and earlier. I felt he could've been a day 1 RT option for us if he hadn't decommitted this year. I thought Michael Carroll could've been our Day 1 G option instead...man what a difference that combo would've been coming into this offseason. A shored up side of the line and having to only replace LT/LG/C and Jackson Lloyd could slot into RT and slide Haywood to LT we'd have our bookend pieces for 2-3 years moving forward and a scary good guard.

Coulda woulda shoulda, they'll be on the roster this year likely and I'd really like to see all 3 playing/starting if possible. I know everyone wants to grab 3 starters from the portal but I believe Haywood can start as soon as he arrives. Lloyd is a little iffy still, uber athletic and talented but I think he will have some hiccups as he learns on the job this year...

Also I read your earlier stuff, good stuff. I felt we needed to pivot to a Quality over Quantity approach recently as well. I'm not much for blowing 2-3 million on anyone unless they 100% will change the direction of the offense or defense. I think OL/DL is probably the most critical position and while it may not be the flashy D1 guys people want...the staff is investing in some lower level guys (Similar to what Indiana did) that have a lot of starts and snaps and are 3rd and 4th year players that may just fill the spots we need and shore up the OL.

I think the issue with Bama fans in general is everyone wants the UBER Talented Flashy 5-star snags from the portal and that's not a great approach, honestly. Everyone wants to talk about them, but look at Texas A&M and Texas this year, tons of $$ spent, not much to show for it. Whereas Indiana spent last year taking the slow and steady approach. Evaluating talent spending frugal at spots and finding veteran players that were underappreciated. Our approach this year is a lot more like Indiana, evaluate..find the diamonds in the rough and attack those pieces. Try to grab 2-4 flashy strong pieces at the top but mostly find winners who will come in and contribute.