With the early signing period in the rear-view mirror, and Alabama only involved with a handful of yet-unsigned prospects, the most important period coming up for setting the 2025 roster will actually take place while the 2024 season is still ongoing.
That period, of course, is the opening of the fall transfer portal, which begins Dec. 9 and continues through Dec. 28. If Alabama is selected for the College Football Playoff, the Crimson Tide will play its first game either Dec. 20 or 21. If Alabama were to win its opening-round matchup, the quarterfinal round would take place Dec. 31, 2024 – Jan. 1, 2025.
This creates a quandary both for Alabama and many players on its roster. Two Crimson Tiders have been reported to have announced intentions to transfer already, reserve CB Jahlil Hurley and WR Kobe Prentice, a one-time starter who had fallen down the depth chart with the arrival of the Kalen DeBoer staff. They aren't expected to be the only two to declare for the portal, but the timing of the portal means that any players who intend to transfer in the pre-spring period – which is by far the higher profile of the two portal periods, the other being after spring practices have concluded – must declare their intentions while Alabama's season is still ongoing.
With National Signing Day officially in the books – even though December's Early Signing Day has eclipsed NSD as the real signing day of note – Kalen DeBoer and his staff can finally begin the work of actually getting its roster into fighting shape for the upcoming 2024 season.
Alabama's 30-day transfer portal period, which kicked into being following Nick Saban's retirement, will be ending soon, and we do not expect to see any further entries. Alabama was hit hard in the days immediately after Saban's departure, but portal entries quickly dried up over the last two weeks, and Alabama was able to add three former Washington players: QB Austin Mack, WR Germie Bernard and C Parker Brailsford.
Still, because of the significant losses to the post-Saban portal – especially a total of eight solely from the ranks of the defensive backs, including three expected starters and four others that were expected to break camp in the two-deep – TideFans.com is bringing you an updated roster analysis. More importantly, this will be our first attempt to project a depth chart using Kalen DeBoer's preferred offensive (Air Raid) and defensive (4-2-5 Swarm) systems.
With the early signing period in the rear-view mirror, and Alabama only involved with a handful of yet-unsigned prospects, the most important period coming up for setting the 2025 roster will actually take place while the 2024 season is still ongoing.
That period, of course, is the opening of the fall transfer portal, which begins Dec. 9 and continues through Dec. 28. If Alabama is selected for the College Football Playoff, the Crimson Tide will play its first game either Dec. 20 or 21. If Alabama were to win its opening-round matchup, the quarterfinal round would take place Dec. 31, 2024 – Jan. 1, 2025.
This creates a quandary both for Alabama and many players on its roster. Two Crimson Tiders have been reported to have announced intentions to transfer already, reserve CB Jahlil Hurley and WR Kobe Prentice, a one-time starter who had fallen down the depth chart with the arrival of the Kalen DeBoer staff. They aren't expected to be the only two to declare for the portal, but the timing of the portal means that any players who intend to transfer in the pre-spring period – which is by far the higher profile of the two portal periods, the other being after spring practices have concluded – must declare their intentions while Alabama's season is still ongoing.
In 2024, two Alabama news websites, TiderInsider.com and TideFans.com, are partnering in an effort to “FILL THE BOWL” again at Bryant-Denny Stadium for Kalen DeBoer’s first A-Day game as Alabama’s newest head coach.
Help us do our part by committing to attend the Golden Flake A-Day Spring Football Game on Saturday, April 13, for a 3 p.m. kickoff. Admission is free. Bring the family and friends, fill up the car and help us welcome new head coach Kalen DeBoer to Tuscaloosa.
received in his early years at Alabama. Now, Alabama fans have the chance to extend the same level of support to new head coach Kalen DeBoer.
A full Bryant-Denny Stadium at A-Day would again remind the college football world of the commitment of Alabama fans to its coaches, players and program as a whole. Help us once again fill Bryant-Denny Stadium to capacity.