An event such as Nick Saban’s retirement from Alabama was inevitably going to cause massive ripples through the college football landscape. Despite the Crimson Tide picking up former Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer, the Alabama roster and recruiting scene are in constant flux as the new coach tries to buckle everything down.
Since Saban’s retirement on Jan. 10, Alabama has had five decommitments from the class of 2025 and one decommitment from the class of 2024. The Tide have also had 14 players enter the portal following Saban’s retirement, including a former JUCO tight end who wound up committing to Tennessee just a few days later.
Here’s a look at Alabama’s decommitments since Saban’s retirement:
WR Ryan Williams (2024)
- Five-star
- Saraland, AL
- Decommit 1/10
EDGE Zion Grady (2025)
- Four-star
- Enterprise, AL
- Decommit 1/17
WR Jaime Ffrench (2025)
- Four-star
- Jacksonville, FL
- Decommit 1/14
EDGE Javion Hilson (2025)
- Four-star
- Cocoa, FL
- Decommit 1/16, Flipped to Florida State
OT Mason Short (2025)
- Four-star
- Evans, GA
- Decommit 1/16
OT Dontrell Glover (2025)
- Four-star
- Fairburn, GA
- Decommit 1/15
More from RTI: Report: Star Alabama Safety Plans To Enter Transfer Portal
Alabama’s departures from the transfer portal have been fairly constant since the news of Saban’s retirement dropped. Here’s a look at the players that have departed from Alabama since the news was released on the 10th:
Jan. 11: RS-SO IOL Terrence Ferguson (Florida State)
Jan. 12: RS-FR S Jake Pope (Georgia), JR TE Miles Kitselman (Tennessee)
Jan. 13: SR RB Roydell Williams (Florida State)
Jan. 14: SO WR Isaiah Bond (Texas)
Jan. 15: RS-FR DL Isaiah Hastings (Syracuse), RS-FR WR Shazz Preston (Tulane), RS-FR LB Shawn Murphy (Florida State)
Jan. 16: RS-FR S Antonio Kite (Undecided), SR CB Trey Amos (Undecided), JR LB Kendrick Blackshire (Texas), FR CB Dezz Ricks (Texas A&M), SO TE Amari Niblack (Undecided)
Jan. 17: SO S Caleb Downs (Undecided)
It’s safe to say that Saban’s retirement and DeBoer’s move to Tuscaloosa will continue to make waves in the college football recruiting scene over the next few months as the players either move on and settle into their new homes or stick with the Crimson Tide.
Either way, there’s an opportunity out there for coaches and programs that missed out on these players the first time around.
