Alabama football will eye their 17th straight double-digit winning season when they face the Michigan Wolverines in the ReliaQuest Bowl on New Year’s Eve. In their first year under head coach Kalen DeBoer, the Alabama Crimson Tide missed out on their second straight College Football Playoff berth but still posted a respectable 9-3 record with wins over South Carolina, Georgia, Missouri, and Wisconsin. However, like many non-CFP competing teams, Alabama has dealt extensively with the transfer portal’s twenty-day window.

On Tuesday, Alabama football experienced a rollercoaster of emotions regarding the portal. Star cornerback Jaylen Mbakwe reiterated his commitment to the SEC power despite rumors of him accepting a multi-million dollar NIL deal at a competing program. On Wednesday, athletic director Greg Byrne sent a call to action to the Crimson Tide fanbase, asking for more name, image, and likeness (NIL) donations. Nevertheless, college football fans put him in their sights following his big ask.

Alabama Football AD Makes Fans Irate With NIL Post
Alabama Football, NIL
Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Williams (2) makes a circus catch with Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Malaki Starks (24) defending at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama defeated Georgia 41-34. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images. (News Alabama Football)
According to On3 via Twitter:

NEW: Alabama AD Greg Byrne called out schools for ‘using promises of million-dollar paydays to lure away our players’

“It is time for the Bama Nation to fight back.”

Alabama football AD Greg Byrne did not mince words when discussing the current state of the team’s name, image, and likeness collective. “You have heard examples of other teams using promises of million-dollar paydays to lure away our players or convince them not to come to Alabama. It is time for the Bama Nation to fight back,” Byrne said on Twitter, pushing for fans to join the Yea Alabama, the official NIL entity for Alabama.

With the Alabama Crimson Tide winning at least ten games every season from 2008 to 2023, with six national titles during that span, fans were quick to bash Byrne for his demand. Many college football fans flooded Twitter, calling out Byrne and Alabama for asking their loyalists to pour money into their name, image, and likeness collective in an attempt to keep their top-end talent:

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Auburn Tigers defensive lineman Keldric Faulk (15) takes down Alabama Crimson Tide running back Jam Miller (26) as Auburn Tigers take on Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Alabama Crimson Tide defeated Auburn Tigers 28-14.
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As the postseason begins for college football in 2024-25, the annual honors and accolades are coming in.

Alabama’s left guard Tyler Booker and safety Malachi Moore earned spots on the Sporting News All-America Second Team on Wednesday.

These two co-captains continue to accumulate postseason honors. Below is a list of every SEC and All-American team they’ve appeared on in 2024:

Tyler Booker
Sporting News All-America Second Team
FWAA All-American Second Team
AP All-America Second Team
AFCA All-American Second Team
Coaches All-SEC First Team
AP All-SEC First Team
Walter Camp All-American Second Team

Malachi Moore
Sporting News All-America Second Team
AP All-America Second Team
AFCA All-American Second Team
Coaches All-SEC First Team
AP All-SEC Second Team

Sporting News First Team Offense
QB: Cam Ward, Miami
RB: Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
RB: Kaleb Johnson, Iowa
WR: Travis Hunter, Colorado
WR: Nick Nash, San Jose State
TE: Tyler Warren, Penn State
T: Kelvin Banks, Texas
G: Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
C: Cooper Mays, Tennessee
G: Willie Lampkin, North Carolina
T: Wyatt Milum, West Virginia
AP: Cam Skattebo, Arizona State

Sporting News First Team Defense
DL: Mason Graham, Michigan
DL: Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
DE/EDGE: Abdul Carter, Penn State
DE/EDGE: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
LB: Shaun Dolac, Buffalo
LB: Jay Higgins, Iowa
LB: Kyle Louis, Pitt
CB: Jahdae Barron, Texas
CB: Nohl Williams, Cal
S: Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
S: Caleb Downs, Ohio State
DB: Nick Emmanowori, South Carolina

Sporting News First Team Specialists
K: Dominic Zvada, Michigan
P: Eddie Czaplicki, USC
KR: Rayshawn Pleasant, Tulane
PR: Kam Shanks, UAB

Sporting News Second Team Offense
QB: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
RB: Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
RB: Dylan Sampson, Tennessee
WR: Xavier Restrepo, Miami
WR: Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
TE: Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
OL: Will Campbell, LSU
OL: Jacob Gideon, Western Michigan
OL: Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State
OL: Tyler Booker, Alabama
OL: Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota

Sporting News Second Team Defense
DT: Derrick Harmon, Oregon
DT: Rylie Mills, Notre Dame
DE/EDGE: Kyle Kennard, South Carolina
DE/EDGE: Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech
LB: Aiden Fisher, Indiana
LB: Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
LB: Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
CB: Cobee Bryant, Kansas
CB: Trey Amos, Ole Miss
S: Malachi Moore, Alabama
S: Malaki Starks, Georgia
DB: Koi Perich, Minnesota

**Sporting

 

 

 

Though the Colorado Buffaloes are about to lose their two best players — quarterback Shedeur Sanders and cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter — to the NFL Draft, they have a solid influx of incoming talent to help replace them.

 

CU got a big win when it signed four-star QB recruit Julian Lewis to replace Sanders, and it got another huge win on Monday when four-star defensive lineman Jehiem Oatis, the No. 3-ranked defensive lineman in the transfer portal according to On3, announced he had committed to Colorado after transferring from Alabama.

 

Oatis is the sixth four-star recruit to join CU’s 2025 recruiting class, which ranks 35th in the country. He’ll play under one of the top defensive line staffs in the country that includes defensive line coach Damione Lewis and Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp.

 

While landing a player of Oatis’ caliber is big in itself for Colorado and head coach Deion Sanders, what Oatis did after committing was perhaps even bigger. The 6-foot-5 defensive tackle took to social media to send a strong message to other elite recruits in the transfer portal.

 

“All defensive players that wanna come win a National Championship hit my dm! We bringing the CFP 🏆 to Boulder…,” Oatis tweeted.

 

Former Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Jehiem Oatis (10) celebrates after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs.

Former Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Jehiem Oatis (10) celebrates after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs. Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

Two defensive players of note that Colorado could pursue in the portal are four-star cornerbacks Tacario Davis from Arizona and Josh Moten from Marshall, both of whom would be solid replacements for Hunter.

 

Other notable defensive players Colorado could target in the transfer portal include Texas State edge-rusher Ben Bell, Purdue edge-rusher Will Heldt, and Florida State edge-rusher Marvin Jones Jr., plus North Carolina linebacker Amare Campbell and Temple LB Tyquan King.

 

 

 

Collins took to social media on Tuesday night to announce his commitment to the Crimson Tide.

 

It’s a homecoming for Collins. Out of Gardendale (Alabama) High School, Collins was one of the top recruits in the Yellowhammer State.

 

On the 247Sports Composite, Collins was rated 4-stars, the No. 5 defensive lineman, No. 6 player in Alabama and No. 42 prospect overall nationally in the Class of 2023. Collins attracted widespread interest in his original recruitment with scholarship offers from 29 schools, including Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas and Texas A&M. It was a big win for Billy Napier and his staff to land Collins’ commitment in August 2022 and then his signature that December.

 

Collins heads to Tuscaloosa with 2 full seasons of remaining eligibility, as well as an available redshirt.

 

In the 2024 regular-season campaign, Collins played in 6 games. He recorded 6 total tackles, including 1 solo stop. His last appearance came on Oct. 19 in UF’s home win over Kentucky. Collins announced plans to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 3. The Gators play Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl on Friday in Tampa.

 

Last season, Collins appeared in all 12 games for the Gators and earned Freshman All-SEC recognition. He recorded 23 total tackles, including 1.5 TFLs and sacks. He also logged 4 quarterback hurries, 1 pass breakup and 1 forced fumble.

 

 

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Mike Shula, the former head coach at Alabama, has been hired as South Carolina’s new offensive coordinator with a three-year contract worth $1.1 million annually.

The school’s board of trustees approved Shula’s contract along with contract extensions and raises for the other nine assistant coaches on Tuesday. Among the new agreements, defensive coordinator Clayton White’s contract was altered to make him the highest-paid assistant in school history, with a salary of $1.9 million for next year, which will rise to $2 million in 2026 and $2.1 million in 2027.

Shula, who joined South Carolina as an offensive analyst in March, will also oversee the quarterbacks. He replaces Dowell Loggains, the former offensive coordinator, who became the head coach at Appalachian State earlier this month.

These agreements follow a successful season for the Gamecocks, who were picked to finish 13th in the expanded Southeastern Conference. They ended up with a 9-3 record and won their last six games, including four victories over ranked teams.

Shula’s task will be to improve the performance of sophomore quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who impressed in his first year as a starter. He threw for 1,481 yards and 13 touchdowns during the team’s six-game win streak and added four rushing touchdowns.

South Carolina will face Illinois in the Citrus Bowl on December 31.

Shula, son of the legendary NFL coach Don Shula, played quarterback for Alabama and served as the team’s head coach from 2003 to 2006. Before joining South Carolina, his most recent job was as a senior offensive assistant with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

White’s performance on defense earned him a raise. The Gamecocks finished third in the SEC in total defense (allowing 313 yards per game) and fifth in scoring defense (17.8 points per game). They ranked second in the SEC with 40 sacks, with defensive end Kyle Kennard leading the league with 11.5 sacks.

White’s new contract will keep him at South Carolina until the 2027 season.

Other coaches also received significant raises. Offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley saw his salary increase by $265,000 to $675,000. Receivers coach Mike Furrey’s pay went up by $225,000 to $650,000. Linebackers and defensive ends coach Sterling Lucas received a $200,000 raise, bringing his salary to $775,000. Defensive backs coach Torian Gray earned a $150,000 raise to $850,000, while defensive line coach Travian Robertson’s salary increased by $150,000 to $550,000.

Special teams coach Joe DeCamillis’ salary was raised by $50,000 to $850,000, and tight ends coach Shawn Elliott’s salary went up by $10,000 to $760,000 for next year, with an increase to $775,000 in the final two years of his deal.

 

Though the Colorado Buffaloes are set to lose their two best players—quarterback Shedeur Sanders and cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter—to the NFL Draft, they have a promising group of incoming talent to help fill the void.

Colorado secured a major win by signing four-star QB recruit Julian Lewis to replace Sanders, and another big victory came on Monday when four-star defensive lineman Jehiem Oatis, the No. 3-ranked defensive lineman in the transfer portal according to On3, announced his commitment to Colorado after transferring from Alabama.

Oatis becomes the sixth four-star recruit in CU’s 2025 recruiting class, which ranks 35th nationally. He’ll join one of the top defensive line staffs in the country, including defensive line coach Damione Lewis and Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp.

While securing a player of Oatis’ caliber is a significant achievement for Colorado and head coach Deion Sanders, what Oatis did after committing may be even more impactful. The 6-foot-5 defensive tackle took to social media to send a powerful message to other top recruits in the transfer portal.

“All defensive players that wanna come win a National Championship hit my dm! We bringing the CFP to Boulder…,” Oatis tweeted.

Among the defensive players Colorado could target in the portal are four-star cornerbacks Tacario Davis from Arizona and Josh Moten from Marshall, both of whom would be strong replacements for Hunter.

Other defensive players that Colorado may pursue include Texas State edge-rusher Ben Bell, Purdue edge-rusher Will Heldt, Florida State edge-rusher Marvin Jones Jr., North Carolina linebacker Amare Campbell, and Temple LB Tyquan King.

 

 

In 2025, Alabama football won’t have a DeVonta Smith on the roster anymore for the first time since 2016.

 

The defensive back, with the same name as the Heisman Trophy-winning receiver, entered his name in the transfer portal as a graduate transfer recently, a source told AL.com.

 

Smith spent four seasons with the Crimson Tide, joining Alabama in 2021, right after the receiver with the same name was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles.

 

Smith was the primary starter at Husky this season, which is the name for the nickel defensive back in Alabama’s defense. He started in 11 of 12 games in 2024.

 

Over that time, he tallied 30 tackles, one forced fumble and broke up five passes. Smith primarily worked on special teams prior to this season and missed most of 2023 with an injury.

 

Smith joins the likes of running back Justice Haynes, receiver Kendrick Law and others who have entered the transfer portal since it opened Monday. That was the start of the 20-day transfer window.

 

Alabama will close out the 2024 season in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa on Dec. 31.

 

The Colorado Buffaloes will need to reload the team’s roster for 2025 with stars like Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter heading to the NFL draft. Head coach Deion Sanders is already hard at work targeting top players in the college football transfer portal.

 

Coach Prime has his eyes on an Alabama Crimson Tide playmaker to potentially pair with star quarterback recruit Julian “Ju Ju” Lewis. Colorado has also been linked to Liberty Flames quarterback Kaidon Salter, who began his college football career in the SEC with the Tennessee Volunteers.

 

Colorado is hosting Alabama freshman receiver Caleb Odom for a visit this weekend as the wideout looks for a new home. Odom is Lewis’ former Carrollton High School teammate.

 

 

Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Caleb Odom lays out for a pass. Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News

Rivals.com’s Adam Friedman predicted that the Buffs will ultimately land the 6-foot-5, 227-pound wideout in the transfer portal.

 

“Odom didn’t get a chance to really show off his abilities this year at Alabama so he’s looking for his next team in the transfer portal,” Friedman wrote on Thursday. “He’s going to be at Colorado this weekend, and the Buffs need to reload at receiver.

 

“Another thing Colorado has going for them is Odom’s former quarterback, five-star Ju Ju Lewis, just signed with Colorado. The possibility of reuniting with him should be a big draw for Odom. There are a number of other programs Odom plans to visit, but expect Colorado to be in the mix until the very end.”

 

Colorado faces competition for Odom, and outlets are split on where the former highly touted recruit will land. On3.com predicted that Ole Miss will be able to snag Odom.

 

 

 

Travis Hunter, a wide receiver and cornerback for the Colorado Buffaloes, is the most recent Heisman winner, making history as the first player from Colorado to win the prestigious award since Rashaan Salaam in 1994. His Heisman victory places him alongside some of college football’s most legendary players. Hunter’s standout moments this season, along with others, were key to his recognition.

In 2024, Hunter delivered remarkable performances for the Buffaloes, breaking a school record with 14 receiving touchdowns. He also became the first player in Big 12 history to rank in the top-10 in both receiving touchdowns and interceptions. With 1,356 total snaps—434 more than any other player—he became the first defensive player to win the Heisman since Charles Woodson in 1997.

 

In 2023, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels showcased his all-around skill, passing for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns, and just 4 interceptions, adding 1,135 rushing yards and 10 more touchdowns. Despite LSU’s three-loss season, Daniels became the second quarterback to win the Heisman with such a record. His signature moment came in a thrilling win over Florida, where he passed for 372 yards, ran for 234 yards, and scored five total touchdowns.

In 2022, Caleb Williams of USC shined in his first season with the Trojans, amassing 4,075 passing yards and 37 touchdowns, along with 372 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. He led USC to a top-10 finish and a Cotton Bowl berth. His Heisman campaign was solidified by a standout performance against Notre Dame, where he threw for 232 yards, added one touchdown pass, and rushed for three more, even striking the Heisman pose after a touchdown.

Bryce Young of Alabama won the 2021 Heisman, becoming the second consecutive Alabama player to do so after DeVonta Smith in 2020. In his first season as a starter, Young threw for 4,322 yards and 43 touchdowns. His Heisman moment came during the SEC Championship, where he torched Georgia’s top defense for 421 yards passing and four total touchdowns, leading Alabama to a 41-24 victory.

In 2020, DeVonta Smith made history by becoming the first wide receiver to win the Heisman since Desmond Howard in 1991. Smith finished the season with 98 receptions for 1,511 yards and 23 total touchdowns. His Heisman moment came during a dominant performance against LSU, where he recorded 231 yards and three touchdowns in a 55-17 win. His Heisman acceptance speech was also a memorable highlight.

In 2019, Joe Burrow’s Heisman-winning season at LSU was defined by his leadership and remarkable performances, including his emotional Heisman speech.