Updated 12:50 P.M. CST – Freshman left tackle Kadyn Proctor plans to enter the portal as well. Proctor, a former 5-star recruit who struggled early in the year, shined down the stretch before an ankle injury limited him in the Rose Bowl. Iowa is seen as a potential landing spot.
Amid much speculation, freshman All-American safety for Alabama, Caleb Downs, will enter the transfer portal, as first reported by On3.
Defensive back has been the position group by far hit the hardest since Saban’s departure, which makes sense when you consider the fact that Saban works directly with the DBs and players at the position who commit to Alabama commit to Saban.
The departure of Travaris Robinson to Georgia spelled trouble as well, with Robinson serving as Downs’ main recruiter and mentor, and could cast an indication as to where Downs lands in the portal.
Downs led the Crimson Tide with 107 tackles this season, the first freshman in the history of the program to do so. He is already one of the best safeties in the entire nation and will likely be a first round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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It’s a devastating loss for an Alabama team that has seen a ton of losses in the transfer portal already.
Thus far in the defensive backfield, in addition to Downs, Alabama has lost Trey Amos (portal, uncommitted), Jake Pope (portal, Georgia), Dezz Ricks (portal, Texas A&M), Antonio Kite (portal, uncommitted), Earl Little Jr. (portal, uncommitted), Kristian Story (portal, Kentucky), Terrion Arnold (NFL), Kool-Aid McKinstry (NFL), and Jaylen Key (NFL).
With the 30-day portal window wide open for Alabama, chances are it will continue to get worse for Alabama before it gets better.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP
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