| RECRUIT ⭐️Alabama 2025 Recruiting Class Updates ⭐️: Four-Star DL Vodney Cleveland (2026) has Committed to Alabama
- Thread starter Brandon Van de Graaff
- Start date
musso
Member
We've seen their roster on paper but not the field yet.
Oh really? What's that?
My point is that we're going to need a large class that includes a blend of immediate contributors and depth. And I think too much is being made of transfers. Yes, the portal can be used with success to plug a hole here and there. But I'm skeptical of relying on it beyond that. Culture matters, and culture is created by community and retention.
But hey, if I'm wrong and it no longer matters if our players develop AT BAMA with OUR facilities, OUR support staff, OUR coaches, OUR nutritionists, OUR athletic trainers, etc. and we can let them develop at other schools at their expense ... then let's liquidate all of the bloated budgets, salaries, equipment, facilities, etc. and just start handing out as much cash as possible. Mrs Terri had it right.
Seriously? Lane Kiffin has not had a losing season at Ole Miss. How many winning seasons had Ole Miss had before he got there? How many 10 win seasons had they had before he arrived. Lane Kiffin has turned Ole Miss into a serious contender for an SEC title, largely through the use of the portal. Not even Eli Manning could turn Ole Miss into a serious contender. Even Hugh Freeze only had one ten win season there. The portal works, and Lane Kiffin is proving it.
musso
Member
The portal "works," yes, for an Ole Miss to attain a status of respectability. To keep a program among the top 2 or 3 in the nation? I say no. Again, I believe the elite and most consistent programs will have the greatest degree of player retention and development. Yes, maybe the stars will align every now and then and a portal roster will go far into the playoffs. But afterwards, they will all leave for the NFL. You won't see portal dynasties, but you will always see dynasties formed by player retention, player development, and consistent culture.
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BamaFan334
Member
Ole Miss isn't truly a threat. Alabama showed that. They beat who they should beat and win one or two that are coin flips. They have to win the ones they aren't expected to win to be true challengers, and they haven't been able to.
50+yeartidefan
Member
Thats exactly why i took "under 9 1/2"
Will lose 2 .... that they are less than...
And 1 that LK screws pooch on...
Justneedme81
Member
Wait til I get home to respond to several of your posts.
Justneedme81
Member
Let's look at the transfer portal in the last three years for Top 7 teams:
2022: Ole Miss, USC, South carolina, LSU, Louisville, Miami and Texas
2023: Colorado, Louisville, USC, UCLA Auburn, Ole miss, Arkansas
2024: As of right now, and it may change in few weeks, but it is
Louisville, Colorado, Ole miss, FSU, South carolina and NC State.
So I'll pick Ole Miss, USC, Louisville since they have been so active in the last three years.
Ole Miss: 10-3, 8-5 and 11-2 - They have done well. Transfer portal helped.
USC- 4-8, 11-3, 8-5 - They was doing well until the last few games where they regressed. Transfer portal helped.
Louisville- 6-7, 8-5, 10-4 Transfer portal definitely helped.
I don't see this going anyway anytime soon. More and more teams are realizing that Teams can actually win with right players out of the portal. So yes, they can be a top 5 team in the nation.
Oh, Ole Miss was and is always a threat in SEC.... Kiffin is always a threat to any other coaches on the field, except for Sark. Kiffin and Sark can go tic and toe with each other.
2022: Ole Miss, USC, South carolina, LSU, Louisville, Miami and Texas
2023: Colorado, Louisville, USC, UCLA Auburn, Ole miss, Arkansas
2024: As of right now, and it may change in few weeks, but it is
Louisville, Colorado, Ole miss, FSU, South carolina and NC State.
So I'll pick Ole Miss, USC, Louisville since they have been so active in the last three years.
Ole Miss: 10-3, 8-5 and 11-2 - They have done well. Transfer portal helped.
USC- 4-8, 11-3, 8-5 - They was doing well until the last few games where they regressed. Transfer portal helped.
Louisville- 6-7, 8-5, 10-4 Transfer portal definitely helped.
I don't see this going anyway anytime soon. More and more teams are realizing that Teams can actually win with right players out of the portal. So yes, they can be a top 5 team in the nation.
Oh, Ole Miss was and is always a threat in SEC.... Kiffin is always a threat to any other coaches on the field, except for Sark. Kiffin and Sark can go tic and toe with each other.
TerryP
Staff
A little premature worry in my eyes. We don't know what'll happen with the spring portal: we could see Bama land another corner. Setting that possibility aside ...
Hurley is coming off of a redshirt year. I wonder how Mbakwe will be used. Mincey will grow some more and "football guys" are raving over Brown.
All four of those guys were rated a five star by one service or another. With all appearances they'll be running with three corner's a lot all they need to a couple of guys to fill out the three deep for '25.
Mitchell, Dre Jr., and Morgan are three that can back up Malachi. While Sabb will man the rover spot it's another position Tony Mitchell can play. Here's a position Mincey can grow in to as well.
Smith is the likely safety and here's another position to watch with Mincey.
There's still a few guys who's names I'm missing...
musso
Member
Well what we do know is there isn't much room at all. By my count maybe we have one spot available after accounting for Proctor's return. Maybe we could push out a back up QB after Spring to free up a scholly. But we're back to my concern of soliciting another transfer who would likely be NFL eligible after this season. Hard not to be excited about the incoming DB class, but again we will need more bodies after losing the only four veterans we have (likely 4 of the 5 starters this season).
"Premature worry"???? Who? Me??
Justneedme81
Member
I wouldn't worry about 2025 just yet. With the 2025 class/ mixed with transfer guys.. we'll be fine.
BamaFan334
Member
An 11-2 record does not mean you're a threat. It's all about matchups and they have always lost games to teams better than them. It's as simple as matchups, and I see that every weekend on a travel baseball level. A team can go 2-0 and be the third worst team out of 20 and they get blown out in bracket play by a 17-seed. Same with Ole Miss. Same with USC. Same with Louisville. No wins that have shown they are Tier 1 level or threats. Sure, for those programs, winning 10 games is great, and I can agree that is great, but being a threat to National Championship caliber teams is not the same on a consistent basis.
Ole Miss - Alabama
2021 - 42-21 - L
2022 - 30-24 - L
2023 - 24-10 - L
I don't consider beating Penn State a landscape altering win. Penn State could easily be on this list that i could point to if they in fact were heavy portal wise.
USC - Utah
2021 - 42-26 - L
2022 - 43-42 - L
2022 - 47-24 - L Pac-12 Championship
2023 - 34-32 - L
Louisville - Clemson
2021 - 30-24 - L
2022 - 31-16 - L
2023 - Did not play
Lost to Duke 23-0, ha ha.
I'm not even going to rehash the ACC Championship game.
Justneedme81
Member
But who's going to be in playoff this fall with those records? Ole miss and Lousiville. Conference Championship won't mean shit .. just stay out of certain spot in playoff ranking.... and easy road to championship.
BamaFan334
Member
That's only because the target is moving. If we're going on history, we have to go on those parameters. Also, with the SEC getting tougher, only losing two is going to be like losing one used to be and even undefeated in cases like Alabama and Georgia this Fall.
musso
Member
Weeeell ... what else am I to do in the offseason???
TerryP
Staff
An 11 win season, combined with what they've added through the portal, and looking at their matchups this fall? They are a threat: easily could be one of the at-large invitations.
BamaFan334
Member
Bet you $100 right now.
TerryP
Staff
On what? I can see 11-1; 10-2 is very doable. Who are you chalking up the L's against?
2024 Ole Miss Football Schedule | ||
| Saturday Apr. 13 | Grove Bowl Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MS | 4:00pm ETSECN+/ESPN+ |
| Saturday Aug. 31 | Furman Paladins Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MS | Time TBA ETTV TBA |
| Saturday Sep. 7 | Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MS | Time TBA ETTV TBA |
| Saturday Sep. 14 | at Wake Forest Demon Deacons Allegacy Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC | Time TBA ETTV TBA |
| Saturday Sep. 21 | Georgia Southern Eagles Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MS | Time TBA ETTV TBA |
| Saturday Sep. 28 | 23 Kentucky Wildcats (HC)Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MS | Time TBA ETTV TBA |
| Saturday Oct. 5 | at South Carolina Gamecocks Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC | Time TBA ETTV TBA |
| Saturday Oct. 12 | at 12 LSU Tigers Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA | Time TBA ETTV TBA |
| Saturday Oct. 19 | OFF | |
| Saturday Oct. 26 | 14 Oklahoma Sooners Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MS | Time TBA ETTV TBA |
| Saturday Nov. 2 | at Arkansas Razorbacks D.W.R. Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, AR | Time TBA ETTV TBA |
| Saturday Nov. 9 | 1 Georgia Bulldogs Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MS | Time TBA ETTV TBA |
| Saturday Nov. 16 | OFF | |
| Saturday Nov. 23 | at Florida Gators Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL | Time TBA ETTV TBA |
| EGG BOWL | ||
| Saturday Nov. 30 | Mississippi State Bulldogs Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MS | Time TBA ETTV TBA |
| Saturday Dec. 7 | SEC ChampionshipMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA | Time TBA ETABC |
Losses to LSU, Oklahoma and Georgia and maybe Florida but who knows about those guys.
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