After watching more than a dozen players disappear into the NCAA's winter transfer portal over the last 10 days, the Alabama football coaching staff finally got to welcome one coming in from the other side.
The Crimson Tide has added DL Kelby Collins to the roster, a Gardendale, Ala., native who spent the last two seasons at Florida . And although Collins' production was limited as sophomore in 2024, he was among the SEC's most impressive defensive freshmen in 2023. UA defensive coordinator Kane Wommack sees a strong fit for Collins at the bandit position, the defensive end who aligns on the wide side of the field in UA's defensive scheme.
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But he's open to working Collins at multiple spots.
"He'll be a bandit for us, play the field DE position. He's a big man. It'll be exciting to get out there and work with him. When you go through this you watch tons of tape, anything you can get your hands on, just to see what a guy's skill set would be,' Wommack said. "Then you talk to a million people and try to figure out exactly where you place him. But I think guys like that who have big frames that are still developing, I don't know if we want to put him into any one box. That's where he'll start, then it's wherever he can help the teams best."
Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer struck much the same tone when it comes to Collins' role in the defense, noting his versatility.
"A guy who can come in and do a lot of different things and add to the group," DeBoer said. "Outside, inside, can do a little bit of both."
Collins was recruited out of high school by Alabama defensive line coach Freddie Roach, and Wommack said Collins' relationship with Roach played a role in his transfer decision. As a freshman defensive end with the Gators , Collins made 23 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 2023 to earn Freshman All-SEC honors. He played more at the defensive tackle position in 2024, and made only six stops.
Alabama could lose its top player at the bandit position, LT Overton , to the NFL draft.
Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X.com @chasegoodbread.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football coaches assess new transfer DE Kelby Collins
