🏈 2026 Alabama Roster Management Chart and Portal news

[BamaFan334]

I think it's worth noting here that in those first few months the locker room was built on "who wants to be here." In the same vein as being alumnus doesn't carry the same meaning with today's athletes, fans struggle with reconciling a lot of these players don't neccessarily "want to be here." They're just about playing ball and its 'benefits.'

That's why I personally don't understand "the right fit" type of player, because in the end you're looking at one year and nothing else, so why wouldn't you just want the best athlete to go out and win a Natty? Tampering is happening. Schools are paying large sums to steal players, so why are we worried about three years form now knowing the percentages are EXTREMELY small you keep a guy that long in this environment.

 

[AirForceBamaFan]

That's why I personally don't understand "the right fit" type of player, because in the end you're looking at one year and nothing else, so why wouldn't you just want the best athlete to go out and win a Natty? Tampering is happening. Schools are paying large sums to steal players, so why are we worried about three years form now knowing the percentages are EXTREMELY small you keep a guy that long in this environment.

Great question…

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

Great question…

There is no difference in college basketball and college football in that it is one and done.

Well, it's 85 vs 15 so that is a big difference.

 

[TerryP]

That's why I personally don't understand "the right fit" type of player, because in the end you're looking at one year and nothing else, so why wouldn't you just want the best athlete to go out and win a Natty?

Part of that fit is coachability (in a sport where every coach struggles with kids and assignment football.) Other than that I don't know how they think today. I'd imagine it's different than how they thought Friday.

We always used the word "fluid" when talking about high school kids and their recruitment. This is a torrent. All I see is the best position to take is stay in my corner of the universe and watch this program go this direction, that program go another, that one over there one stall ... 'bout like watching a few crime/drama procedurals on TV. It's all the same thing but different. All we can do is watch.

 

[TerryP]

There is no difference in college basketball and college football in that it is one and done.

Well, it's 85 vs 15 so that is a big difference.

105 (though I see very few schools carrying that many.)

 

[ElephantStomp]

That's why I personally don't understand "the right fit" type of player, because in the end you're looking at one year and nothing else, so why wouldn't you just want the best athlete to go out and win a Natty? Tampering is happening. Schools are paying large sums to steal players, so why are we worried about three years form now knowing the percentages are EXTREMELY small you keep a guy that long in this environment.

The right fit helps the overall team. I think people pay too much attention to the top rated portal players, there’s over 2,000 kids in the portal and I can guarantee a lot of those kids are damn good talent and can help teams immediately

 

[TerryP]

That's why I personally don't understand "the right fit" type of player, because in the end you're looking at one year and nothing else, so why wouldn't you just want the best athlete to go out and win a Natty? Tampering is happening. Schools are paying large sums to steal players, so why are we worried about three years form now knowing the percentages are EXTREMELY small you keep a guy that long in this environment.

...

Let's say Bama wins the title in two years and they've taken the no prisoners approach.

2048: The 2028 teams is at halftime and no one really cares. The father of two doesn't have the "I went to class with him" stories.

The Croom award after spring ball. How do you pick that guy if he's in and out so quickly? It would cut the field in half for Newsome's award. Some won't qualify for Duncan's because they will have never been through spring camp?

It's gettin' more weird by the day, bruh.

 

[UAgrad93]

I’m fine with Smothers and Coleman going elsewhere. I’d much rather have the $$$$$ that was going to be consumed by two pieces that were more luxury items rather than necessity and get 3-4 OL and a couple of DL to fulfill our needs.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

The Big Dogs are just sitting on the porch watching. I expect several to hit the portal

I’m fine with Smothers and Coleman going elsewhere. I’d much rather have the $$$$$ that was going to be consumed by two pieces that were more luxury items rather than necessity and get 3-4 OL and a couple of DL to fulfill our needs.

Bama needs a proven RB as bad as anything right now. These two freshmen might be great, but we need one that has speed, power, and can make the defense miss. We don't have that RB on our roster right now. #4 #28 are ordinary at best. You would need the 68 Green Bay Packer OL to have a ground attack with those two carrying the load.

 

[TerryP]

there’s over 2,000 kids in the portal and I can guarantee a lot of those kids are damn good talent and can help teams immediately

The numbers are out there and they aren't good. In last year's cycle there were over 2000 (it was a little north of 2300.) This year it's 3300+ and open. The last I read half of them are from P4 schools.

Using last years attrition and this years numbers to date ... 1600 G6 kids with just under 30 percent moving up to P4 competition. Math tells me around 450 kids will improve their position. (At the cost of how many high school kids? Different subject.)

If everyone is put together; all of FBS and all of FCS, last year a little over 20 percent "moved up." Overall, 20 percent didn't find another team. (A few percentage points under that for P4 guys.)

When you put all of these guys together in a pot again and combine them with your other sports athletes...from your DIII schools to, everyone. There are over 5500 unsigned, right now. (They are estimating this cycle will see between 30-50 percent of the total won't sign. That's a huge margin for error, right? Another example they don't know what's going on.)

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A shit load of different numbers, isn't it? People don't understand how broad the effect of the portal has been. That hypothetical running back from Campbell on a partial scholarship who thinks he can do better? Yeah. Half the time that's a "no, you can't."

 

[Bammerboy321]

DeBoer is DeBarbecued

 

[TerryP]

#4 #28 are ordinary at best.

As compared to which other redshirt freshmen? I see reason to be optimistic with Dear.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

The numbers are out there and they aren't good. In last year's cycle there were over 2000 (it was a little north of 2300.) This year it's 3300+ and open. The last I read half of them are from P4 schools.

Using last years attrition and this years numbers to date ... 1600 G6 kids with just under 30 percent moving up to P4 competition. Math tells me around 450 kids will improve their position. (At the cost of how many high school kids? Different subject.)

If everyone is put together; all of FBS and all of FCS, last year a little over 20 percent "moved up." Overall, 20 percent didn't find another team. (A few percentage points under that for P4 guys.)

When you put all of these guys together in a pot again and combine them with your other sports athletes...from your DIII schools to, everyone. There are over 5500 unsigned, right now. (They are estimating this cycle will see between 30-50 percent of the total won't sign. That's a huge margin for error, right? Another example they don't know what's going on.)

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A shit load of different numbers, isn't it? People don't understand how broad the effect of the portal has been. That hypothetical running back from Campbell on a partial scholarship who thinks he can do better? Yeah. Half the time that's a "no, you can't."

last year a little over 20 percent "moved up." Overall, 20 percent didn't find another team

What percentage of the 20% weren't taken back by their teams?

 

[TerryP]

DeBoer is DeBarbecued

Cradled to close to the wall, this one was.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

As compared to which other redshirt freshmen? I see reason to be optimistic with Dear.

Compared to quality RB's on SEC teams. Dear is a mystery at this point since we haven't seen him enough. 28 and 4 will get us nothing.

JMO but the other freshmen from Texas is going to be a Hoss. Signing Washington last year was nothing but for practice.

 

[bamafan9201]

Dear seems to factor as Alabama's - Speed and Hands back what Jam Miller was supposed to be this year. He needed time to learn how to pass block and acclimate.

Hill is our downhill back - Mostly pure runner, but has decent hands (See some of his catches this year)

Riley is kind of a all-purpose swiss army knife guy

Crowell - Is a stud, he can kinda do it all, not sure about pass blocking but I honestly could see him being the featured back out of Camp if Hill, Riley, and Dear don't make a leap this off-season.

 

[TerryP]

What percentage of the 20% weren't taken back by their teams?

I don't remember.

I got caught up reading about this several days ago; maybe as many as two weeks. It's more than your everyday rabbit hole. You'll see something about P4 which leads you to wonder about the G6. That led to to wonder about FCS, and DIII, and then other sports.

I used the word torrent earlier. It's truly a whirlwind these kids are caught up in and there's a lot of them, overall. In college. And I can't stop thinking about the high school kids looking around.

For what it's worth, I do remember 15 percent or so didn't move up, down...just remained the same. Some at other schools and some at their original schools. That may be the FCS numbers from last year. I wasn't sure and didn't include it when I started rambling.

 

[TerryP]

Compared to quality RB's on SEC teams. ... 28 and 4 will get us nothing.

Who is in this group? Are you comparing Hill to a guy that has a year more experience under his belt? I'm just saying.

Hill has good hands. He will run people over. That is something in today's game.

 

[TerryP]

Hill has good hands. He will run people over. That is something in today's game.

Hill is our downhill back - Mostly pure runner, but has decent hands (See some of his catches this year)

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

Dear seems to factor as Alabama's - Speed and Hands back what Jam Miller was supposed to be this year. He needed time to learn how to pass block and acclimate.

Hill is our downhill back - Mostly pure runner, but has decent hands (See some of his catches this year)

Riley is kind of a all-purpose swiss army knife guy

Crowell - Is a stud, he can kinda do it all, not sure about pass blocking but I honestly could see him being the featured back out of Camp if Hill, Riley, and Dear don't make a leap this off-season.

Hill has to lose 15-20 lbs. and really build some quickness, and neither is going to happen. I can't believe you're still trying to sell 28 as a starting RB for Alabama. He should be at Troy or Jax State.