The NCAA's winter transfer portal opens Monday, and will spark roster upheaval across college football. A number of Alabama players have already announced their intentions to enter the portal, including DL Jehiem Oatis , CB Jahlil Hurley , LB Keanu Koht and WR Kobe Prentice . More are sure to come, particularly given that the majority of the UA roster wasn't recruited by new coach Kalen DeBoer. Players who wish to enter the portal must first inform the school, which then submits necessary NCAA paperwork within two days.
The winter transfer portal opens officially on Monday . Its significance on the NCAA calendar is that it marks the first day that coaches can make contact with athletes whose names are in the portal. However, communication through intermediaries before the portal officially opens is commonplace. Players can designate a "do not contact" tag on their names in the portal, which is often an indicator that they already know what school they want to sign with and don't care to be recruited by anyone else. The winter portal closes on Dec. 28. The NCAA spring portal window is from April 15-26.
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Although Alabama has just signed a highly decorated freshman class for 2025 , head coach Kalen DeBoer would be wise to seek transfer help at multiple positions ahead of spring practice. Seniors CJ Dippre and Robbie Ouzts will leave a void at the tight end position, and there should be a relatively open spring competition at both left guard and right tackle. Defensively, the Crimson Tide could use a boost virtually anywhere on the front seven, from the interior DL to an edge rusher to inside linebacker, where starters Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell are likely NFL-bound. UA is also losing its kicker and punter in Graham Nicholson and James Burnip .
Yes. The closing date on Dec. 28 only marks the last day that players can enter the portal. Once in, they can choose their destination schools on their own timetable, notwithstanding standard student enrollment deadlines. Those who transfer in time to enroll for the spring semester at their new school are eligible to participate in spring practice.
Three big gets:
WR Jameson Williams (2021). Williams was a relative unknown from Ohio State who'd seen limited playing time, but in his only season at Alabama, he exploded for 79 catches, 1,572 yards, 15 receiving touchdowns, and even two TDs on kickoff returns.
RB Jahmyr Gibbs (2022). Also a one-year player at Alabama, Gibbs came from Georgia Tech and amassed 1,628 all-purpose yards (926 rushing, 444 receiving, 258 kick returns).
LB Henry To'o To'o (2021-2022). The transfer from Tennessee was an instant impact at inside linebacker, making 206 tackles, 17 for losses, over 30 starts and two seasons at UA.
Three notable losses:
QB Jalen Hurts (2019): The former UA star left Alabama as a graduate transfer to Oklahoma , ending a long-term competition with Tua Tagovailoa .
OL Damieon George (2022): Although George rarely played for Alabama, he developed into a two-year starter for the Gators .
Reach Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X @chasegoodbread.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: How does NCAA transfer portal work? Alabama football fans' complete guide
