Following the retirement of Nick Saban, the University of Alabama's football program has experienced significant changes, with 28 players entering the transfer portal and 23 from the two-deep roster either entering the portal or the NFL Draft. Additionally, the program has seen 21 players, including notable stars Isaiah Bond and Caleb Downs, enter the portal and six recruits from the Class of 2024/25 decommit. Alabama Athletic Director Greg Byrne has expressed his dislike for the situation but remains optimistic, highlighting the university's investment in players and its status as a premier destination for student-athletes. Byrne has been proactive in seeking feedback from former players such as Joe Namath and has been working with Saban to reassure the recruits about the program's future. He also made a pitch for the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities at Alabama and reached out to former players for their thoughts on the situation.
Alabama AD @Greg_Byrne addresses the concerns of players entering portal... https://t.co/zjLqmQ2Aud
Greg Byrne told @finebaum today that after Nick Saban announced his retirement, he drove to the Birmingham airport and called former Alabama players on his way, including Joe Namath. "Just to get some feedback and see if they had any thoughts that they'd like to give me --…
Greg Byrne to @Finebaum on Nick Saban: "He and I talked this morning. He's been very helpful, trying to talk to the young men that he's recruited here and again, say, we're in a really good spot going forward." https://t.co/hsAxRIUCON
Alabama AD Greg Byrne reacts to Tide's portal departures, makes pitch for NIL https://t.co/PdYpJY7GtG
Greg Byrne on @finebaum: "You absolutely don't like it. You don't like it for the team." Byrne said Alabama's investment into players is as good as any other university. "We think this is the best place in the country for a student-athlete to come to school and compete at the…
28 players from Alabama have entered the transfer portal.
23 players from Alabama's two-deep have entered the transfer portal or the NFL Draft. https://t.co/w3vYYmaCyF
Alabama has a full class worth of players in the transfer portal in the wake of Nick Saban’s retirement https://t.co/T8ZOMyoGOQ
Since losing the Rose Bowl, Alabama as seen: Nick Saban retire 21 players enter the transfer portal (including stars Isaiah Bond, Caleb Downs, et al) 6 recruits from the Class of 2024/25 decommit. Tough stretch for the Tide. Welcome to the real world.