A trio of former Alabama football players have entered the transfer portal after the Crimson Tide lost the national title to Georgia on Monday night.
Three former Alabama football players have entered the transfer portal after losing to Georgia.
Even if Alabama had beaten the Dawgs for the eighth time in a row, players were going to transfer. This is what college football is these days. While it is great to get an offer at a place like Alabama, it is an incredibly difficult place to earn playing time at, given how well Nick Saban and his staff recruits and how prolifically the Crimson Tide win. Which Alabama players are hitting the portal?
Backup quarterback Paul Tyson, who is the great-grandson of Paul “Bear” Bryant.
Alabama backup QB Paul Tyson has entered the portal, @247SportsPortal has learned. A former four-star recruit in the 2019 class, Tyson is the great-grandson of Bear Bryant. https://t.co/l2ZqWqqKaP
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) January 11, 2022
Outside linebacker Drew Sanders, who was a five-star in the 2020 recruiting class.
Alabama OLB Drew Sanders has entered the portal, @247SportsPortal has learned. Sanders was a five-star recruit in the 2020 class. https://t.co/TlzoYEdMA8
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) January 11, 2022
And tight end Jahleel Billingsley, who was part of the 2019 Alabama recruiting class.
Alabama TE Jahleel Billingsley has entered the portal, @247SportsPortal has learned. He was a breakout star for Bama in 2020 and followed that up with 17 catches for 256 yards and 3 TDs this year. https://t.co/q2NDYXDCfU
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) January 11, 2022
Alabama football team loses three players to the transfer portal after CFP
Overall, Tyson was not going to get much playing time at Alabama anyway. Bryce Young will be the unquestioned starter next season and Bryant’s great-grandson wants an opportunity to play. Losing Sanders is interesting because it is always interesting when a former five-star recruit hits the portal. And with Billingsley, he seems to want his role expanded after showing signs initially.
As far as Alabama is concerned, Monday night’s loss will sting throughout the offseason, but this team overachieved. Alabama lost so much talent to the 2021 NFL Draft. It was not easy for the SEC Champions. They won their conference, made the College Football Playoff and won the Cotton Bowl Classic. As Nick Saban said at the podium after the defeat, this team has a lot to be proud of.
Alabama is moving on without Billingsley, Sanders and Tyson, who have entered the portal.
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