One of Alabama’s young, talented pass catchers might leave the program through the transfer portal.
One of Alabama’s young, talented pass catchers might leave the program through the transfer portal.
One of Alabama’s young, talented pass catchers might leave the program through the transfer portal.
Amari Niblack, a tight end, declared on Sunday that he intended to use the NCAA transfer site. In 2023, Niblack caught 20 catches for 327 yards, four of which were touchdowns.
Last season, Niblack, a 6-foot-4, 233-pound tight end from Alabama, was the team’s best receiver. The 2022 class featured a four-star talent from Clearwater, Florida, who was ranked No. 99 nationally by 247 Sports.
In the event that Niblack is not available, seniors CJ Dippre and Robbie Ouzts may lead Alabama’s tight end room in 2024; the other predicted returners are second-year Ty Lockwood and third-year Danny Lewis. Caleb Odom, ranked No. 64 overall by 247 Sports in the 2024 class, and Jay Lindsey are two of Alabama’s freshman.
Twenty-two scholarship players from Alabama have entered the portal overall since it opened in December (see the list below). Twelve Alabama players from the 2023 squad have also declared for the 2024 NFL draft.
- QB Tyler Buchner — Notre Dame (Lacrosse)
- WR Ja’Corey Brooks — Louisville
- DL Anquin Barnes — Colorado
- OL Seth McLaughlin — Ohio State
- DB Earl Little Jr. — Florida State
- QB Eli Holstein — Pittsburgh
- WR Malik Benson — Florida State
- DL Monkell Goodwine — South Carolina
- DL Isaiah Hastings — Missouri
- DB Kristian Story — Kentucky
- OL Terrence Ferguson II – Florida State
- DB Jake Pope — Georgia
- TE Miles Kitselman — Tennessee
- RB Roydell Williams — Florida State
- WR Isaiah Bond — Texas
- WR Shazz Preston
- LB Ian Jackson
- LB Kendrick Blackshire
- CB Dezz Ricks
- CB Antonio Kite
- LB Shawn Murphy
- TE Amari Niblack
READ ALSO :
Alabama expected to retain at least two Nick Saban assistants and add Washington assistant, per report
Robert Gillespie and Freddie Roach are anticipated to stay with Alabama, according to a Sunday ESPN story.
Alabama is expected to retain at least two of its assistants from previous coach Nick Saban’s staff under Kalen DeBoer.
Freddie Roach, the defensive line coach, and Robert Gillespie, the running backs coach, are anticipated to remain, according to an ESPN story on Sunday.
According to the ESPN article, JaMarcus Shephard, the wide receivers coach, passing game coordinator, and assistant head coach at Washington, is also anticipated to travel to Tuscaloosa with DeBoer and Huskies offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb. Grubb declared on Saturday night that he will not be the next head coach of Washington.
Shephard, forty, was born in Indiana, attended DePauw, and worked as an assistant at Western Kentucky from 2011 to 2015. He enrolled at Purdue in 2017 and worked as the co-offensive coordinator for the Boilermakers in 2018. He stayed in West Lafayette until DeBoer recruited him to Washington in 2022.
A day after Alabama’s Rose Bowl defeat to Michigan, Holmon Wiggins left for Texas A&M, leaving the position of wide receivers coach at Alabama vacant.
Gillespie and Roach were regarded as two important components of Saban’s recruiting machine. For the 2024 class, Roach is ranked No. 21 among recruiters; for the 2023 class, Gillespie was ranked No. 2 and Roach, No. 3.
Coach Joe Cox of Alabama’s tight ends and offensive line coach Eric Wolford’s status are yet unknown. Washington, led by Huskies offensive line coach Scott Huff, took home the Joe Moore Award.
