In order to strengthen their linebacker corps, the South Carolina Gamecocks football team signed 6-foot-3, 228-pound true freshman Justin Okoronkwo, who was a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Okoronkwo, a native of Munich, Germany, decided to stay with the Gamecocks for his college career after logging onto the transfer portal last weekend.

Okoronkwo played in all 13 games during his one season at Alabama, mostly as a defensive reserve and on special teams. In addition to half a tackle for loss, he recorded 14 tackles. Before switching to American football about five years ago, he participated in soccer and gymnastics in Germany, where his athletic career started. During the American college camp circuit two summers ago, his impressive physical qualities and quick improvement attracted notice, resulting in scholarship offers from schools like Penn State, Michigan, and South Carolina. In the end, he pledged to Alabama.

1. This calculated move gives South Carolina more depth at linebacker and adds a man with a variety of athletic backgrounds to the squad. In the forthcoming season, fans can expect Okoronkwo’s special skill set and global experience to help the Gamecocks’ defensive lineup.

Nick Saban was caught off guard when he learned of his selection to the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame. The former Alabama football head coach was working as an analyst for ESPN’s College Gameday on Friday evening, ahead of the Cotton Bowl semifinal, when Rece Davis informed him of the honor. Saban, who won six national championships at Alabama, hadn’t been aware of the announcement. “When did that happen?” he asked, surprised by the news, which came exactly a year after his retirement. His ESPN colleagues had known about the recognition in advance, and Pat McAfee handed him a football to commemorate the achievement.

Saban, as is typical for him, humbly downplayed the recognition. “Thank you so much,” he said. “But anytime something like this happens, it’s because you had a lot of great people in your organization. A lot of great players, a lot of great coaches, a lot of support staff, and they made a great team. And I was happy to drive the bus, but we had some great people on it, so thank you so much.”

The National Football Foundation will announce the remainder of the 2025 Hall of Fame class on January 15, and Saban and his fellow inductees will be honored on December 9.

 

 

 

Alabama football will have a different starting lineup in 2025. The question is, how different?

 

A handful of players have departed for the NFL Draft such as guard Tyler Booker, quarterback Jalen Milroe and linebacker Jihaad Campbell. Several players left via the transfer portal, but most were depth pieces and not returning starters outside of Elijah Pritchett and DeVonta Smith.

 

So, the starting lineup might not look drastically different in the second year under coach Kalen DeBoer. There will be some changes, though.

 

With about two months until spring practices start, here’s our early projections for who will win starting spots by the fall.

 

Quarterback

Projected starter: Ty Simpson

 

Analysis: The job is Simpson’s to lose. He has waited his turn and will have every opportunity to win it. The belief is that he can and will, but he won’t be handed the job. He will face competition from Austin Mack and freshman Keelon Russell. But heading into the spring, Simpson’s in pole position.

 

Ty Simpson

Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson warms up for the team’s NCAA college football game against Middle Tennessee, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)AP

Running back

Projected starter: Jam Miller

 

Analysis: Alabama returns the starting running back from 2024.

 

Wide receiver

Projected starters: Germie Bernard (Z), Ryan Williams (X), Cole Adams (H)

 

Analysis: Expect Isaiah Horton to see plenty of time, too, especially in four receiver sets. He projects less as an “H” receiver than Adams or Rico Scott. But the Miami transfer still figures to see plenty of opportunities alongside Bernard and Williams, two returning starters. Jaylen Mbakwe is also a bit of a wildcard here. He will likely be in the running for the starting

“H” receiver spot, in competition with Adams and Scott.

 

Tight end

Projected starters: Danny Lewis Jr. (Y), Josh Cuevas (H)

 

Analysis: Lewis and Cuevas are the top two returners at the position and figure to take over the starting spots from CJ Dippre and Robbie Ouzts.

 

Alabama at Wisconsin 2024

Alabama’s Josh Cuevas (80) catches a touchdown pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)AP

Offensive line

Projected starters: Kadyn Proctor (LT), Michael Carroll (LG), Parker Brailsford (C), Jaeden Roberts (RG), Wilkin Formby (RT)

 

Analysis: Texas A&M transfer Kam Dewberry could also start at left guard instead of Carroll, but Caroll brings plenty of intrigue. He’s got plenty of potential and could be the starter right away. If not, his days in the starting lineup likely aren’t far behind. Also, watch for freJackson Lloyd at right tackle. Formby should get first crack at winning the right tackle job, but Lloyd has a bright future like Carroll.

 

Bandit (defensive lineman)

Projected starter: LT Overton or Kelby Collins

 

Analysis: Overton is back as an “or” starter, and Collins is an addition from Florida who figures to be in the rotation with Overton, similar to how Alabama used Overton with Jah-Marien Latham in 2024.

 

Nose tackle

Projected starter: Tim Keenan III

 

Analysis: The veteran defender maintains his starting spot at nose tackle.

 

Defensive tackle

Projected starter: James Smith

 

Analysis: With Tim Smith gone, James Smith is next up to start in this spot.

 

Alabama vs. Georgia 2024

Alabama linebacker Qua Russaw (4) forces a fumble from Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)AP

Wolf (edge rusher)

Projected starter: Qua Russaw or Jah-Marien Latham

 

Analysis: This is how the depth chart at this position ended the year, and it’s likely how it starts 2025. Both Russaw and Latham present intrigue off the edge.

 

 

Analysis: The Alabama captain will return for another season and fill his starting spot again.

 

 

 

Analysis: Perhaps Justin Jefferson takes this spot instead. And there’s also a scenario where we see Lawson, Hill-Green and Jefferson all on the field at the same time. Either way, the inside linebacker rotation and competition will be one of the most intriguing developments to watch through spring and summer.

 

Alabama vs. Auburn 2024 Iron Bowl

Alabama defensive back Zabien Brown (2) intercepts a pass intended for Auburn tight end Rivaldo Fairweather (13) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)AP

Cornerback

Projected starter: Domani Jackson and Zabien Brown

 

Analysis: Both starting cornerbacks are staying for another season.

 

 

Analysis: The former Michigan transfer missed a good chunk of the year with an injury, but he figures to reclaim his starting spot.

 

 

Analysis: Hubbard played so well down the stretch that he’s an early favorite for one of the safety spots. Zavier Mincey is another player to watch at safety after he fared well as the starter alongside Hubbard in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

 

 

 

Analysis: This could possibly be Red Morgan as well, but we’ll give the edge to Jones, the former Wake Forest transfer. He was primarily a cornerback last season, but then he worked more at Husky as the year went on.

Paul Finebaum recently discussed the possibility of former Alabama head coach Nick Saban becoming the “commissioner of college football” during an interview.

The idea was initially proposed by Penn State coach James Franklin last month as college football leaders look for ways to reshape the sport.

Finebaum downplayed the idea, not because he doubts Saban’s leadership abilities, but because he doesn’t see the current conference commissioners of the power-4 leagues relinquishing their control.

“The reason why there won’t be a commissioner is that the [4 conference] commissioners are not about to cede power,” Finebaum told AL.com this week. “They hold it all. And they’re not giving it to Nick Saban.”

Finebaum also noted that Saban is already a key figure whose advice college football leaders seek.

“There could be an advisory role,” Finebaum added. “But it’s not as if Nick Saban isn’t consulted. He has been. I know the SEC commissioner has always talked to him … I don’t mean to diminish Saban, but it’s not like he has anything new to add that hasn’t already been suggested.”

Saban is set to remain in his role as a College GameDay analyst for 2025.

 

New York Giants coach Brian Daboll yells toward the field during an NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 29, 2024, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

The New England Patriots dismissed coach Jerod Mayo on Sunday night after securing a 23-16 win on the final day of the NFL’s 2024 regular season, leaving the team with a 4-13 record.

The Jacksonville Jaguars parted ways with coach Doug Pederson on Monday morning after a 26-23 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday resulted in a 4-13 finish for the 2024 season.

However, on Monday morning, the New York Giants announced that Brian Daboll would return for a fourth season as head coach following a 3-14 campaign, capped by a 20-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

Giants President John Mara stated that New York would not join the five teams already seeking new head coaches for the 2025 season.

“Now that our season is over, we felt it necessary to make this statement,” Mara said in a release from the team. “(General manager) Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll will continue in their respective roles with the organization. As disappointing as the results of the season have been, (co-owner) Steve (Tisch) and I remain confident in the process that Joe and Brian have implemented and their vision for our team. We look forward to the future and achieving the results we all desire.”

Daboll led the Giants to a 9-7-1 record and a playoff victory in his first season in 2022. However, the team slipped to a 6-11 finish in 2023 and then recorded just three wins in 2024.

The Giants hold the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and may have a quarterback at the top of their draft list. They extended Daniel Jones with a four-year, $160 million contract in 2023, but the quarterback was released on Nov. 27 after playing 16 games over the past two seasons.

Daboll joined the Giants following four years as the Buffalo Bills’ offensive coordinator.

The Bills hired him after his tenure as offensive coordinator for Alabama’s 2017 CFP national-championship-winning team.

Along with the Patriots and Jaguars, the Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, and New York Jets are searching for head coaches. The Bears, Saints, and Jets concluded the 2024 season with interim head coaches.

 

 

Alabama football lost nearly 20 players to the transfer portal this offseason. One could end up with a hated rival of the Crimson Tide.

 

Former five-star edge rusher signing Jeremiah Alexander wrapped up a visit with Auburn, per Hayes Fawcett of On3.com on Saturday night. That’s right — a prized Tide signing set foot on the campus of Alabama’s Iron Bowl rival.

 

Alexander’s trip to Auburn occurred on Saturday afternoon. Still, Alexander’s visit sparked strong fan reactions.

 

“Going from Alabama to Auburn is as unserious as it gets,” one fan account on X posted.

 

Another fan ripped Alexander for visiting Alabama’s most hated rival.

 

“Can’t compete at Big brother U, so you just head down the road to a team that’s won 11 games in two years ?? Ok? Good luck to him,” the fan posted online.

 

The era of the portal has allowed players to land with a rival school. USC and UCLA have seen talent switch allegiances. But Alexander is in a state known for forcing inhabitants to choose only one side.

 

Ex-Alabama 5-star struggled to earn playing time

Dec 31, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Jordan Marshall (23) pushes off on Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Jeremiah Alexander (35) during the second half at Raymond James Stadium.

 

Alexander once landed in Tuscaloosa as the state of Alabama’s No. 1 ranked linebacker for the 2022 class. He also ranked as the nation’s top edge rusher by 247Sports composite.

 

He turned down 19 different universities to line up for Nick Saban and the Tide. Freddie Roach and Sal Sunseri were the Alabama coaches who ran point on Alexander’s recruitment. Alexander even earned the prediction that he would contribute “sooner rather than later” by Cooper Petagna of 247Sports.

 

However, Alexander struggled to crack the playing rotation right away. He appeared in four games for the 2022 campaign but took a redshirt year. Alexander later bounced between inside and outside linebacker for Saban’s final Alabama team of 2023. But he managed only eight tackles and two solo stops across three seasons.

 

He leaves ‘Bama playing only one season for Saban’s replacement at head coach Kalen DeBoer. DeBoer’s first Alabama team finished a disappointing 9-4 overall — the most losses by Alabama since Saban’s first season of 2007 (went 7-6 overall that year). DeBoer and ‘Bama took a dismal 19-13 loss to Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

 

The native of Alabaster has two years of eligibility left. Auburn, though, isn’t the only school on Alexander’s radar.

 

Fawcett adds College Football Playoffs qualifier Clemson is hosting him on a visit on Tuesday. Alexander also has future visits set up with Oklahoma and Ole Miss — the latter coached by former Saban offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin.

 

Deontae Lawson had plenty of options on the table after finishing the 2024 season with Alabama. But the star linebacker is not done yet, confirming on Saturday that he is returning to Tuscaloosa for the 2025 season.

 

The return of Lawson will be a major boost for Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide heading into next season. Lawson will be one of the most productive returners for the team after producing the 2nd-most tackles for Alabama last season with 76.

 

Here is how Deontae Lawson revealed the news:

 

… The University of Alabama has been home for the last four years, and I cannot imagine a better place to learn and grown on the way to graduating while working towards a master’s degre.This program and the staff have been like a second family to me. The opportunity I have been given to play for Coach Nick Saban and Coach DeBoer is a blessing. I want to finish what I started from the day I stepped foot on campus, and that includes winning a national championship.

 

 

Lawson has 194 career tackles for Alabama and has been a key contributor for 3 years running. This past season, he finished 2nd to Jihaad Campbell in tackles (76) and tied for 3rd in TFL (7) and tied for 4th in sacks (2). Lawson was also the 2nd-leading tackler with 67 during the 2023 campaign.

 

Lawson is not the only key piece coming back to the Alabama defense. While Campbell is off to the 2025 NFL Draft, fellow LB Justin Jefferson and defensive lineman Tim Keenan III will both be back for another season with teh Tide. Jefferson finished 4th on the team this past season with 60 tackles while Keenan had 40 tackles to go with 8 TFL and 2.5 sacks.

 

 

Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Notre Dame Football has always attracted a large following, but this season, more than ever, fans were rooting for the Fighting Irish. The main reason was the widespread animosity towards SEC Football.
Since the 2003 season, SEC Football has produced 15 National Championships, while the rest of college football has produced eight. The SEC’s dominance earned respect, but it also bred resentment.

Current reactions to the SEC’s performance in post-season play suggest a new level of parity in college football. NIL is being hailed as the great equalizer.
While the post-season is still ongoing, the early results suggest that a few top programs may have matched the SEC’s talent. Ohio State and Notre Dame, in particular, appear to have better talent than most SEC teams this year. The Buckeyes are often cited as having the most impressive talent, backed by money.

John Talty of CBS reports that Ohio State and two other programs, Oregon and Texas, have the largest NIL budgets. According to an NIL agent, Oregon’s mega-donor, Phil Knight, is financing their program with the goal of securing a national title. Knight is reportedly very aggressive with money. While it’s unclear how much he’s willing to spend, so far, there’s nothing stopping him from doubling or tripling the $20M Ohio State is said to have allocated for its 2024 roster. A one-game sample of Ohio State dominating Oregon doesn’t provide enough evidence to draw definitive conclusions. It may simply highlight the complexity of whether money alone can secure championships.

What about the Alabama Crimson Tide and other SEC programs?
Among the 16 SEC teams, there are few that are financially struggling, and Alabama is not one of them. So far, Kalen DeBoer has managed to keep Ryan Williams despite rumors of large transfer offers. Alabama also managed to secure its top quarterback prospect, Keelon Russell, without exceeding its payroll budget.

With no official transparency on college football payrolls, estimates are speculative at best. When Ohio State’s Athletic Director stated that the school spent over $20M on the 2024 roster, could the real number be even higher? Educated guesses suggest that Texas is likely spending more than $20M, with LSU, Texas A&M, Georgia, and Ole Miss not far behind. Alabama, though believed to be spending less than these programs, is still in the mix.

While it’s still too early for firm conclusions, some minority views hold weight. First, money didn’t seem to secure a championship for Oregon, so if Ohio State does win it all, it’s premature to claim that future titles will be bought.

Second, the SEC’s post-season struggles don’t prove that the rest of college football has surpassed the SEC. If the gap between the SEC and other teams has truly closed, it should be reflected in rankings from reputable computer models. According to the latest ESPN FPI and Jeff Sagarin rankings, the SEC still dominates.

The FPI has 10 SEC teams in its top 20, with Texas ranked No. 2 and Alabama at No. 4. Ole Miss is No. 5, and Georgia is No. 6, meaning four of the top six teams are from the SEC. Jeff Sagarin’s rankings also feature nine SEC teams in the top 20, with five in the top 10.

Currently, the SEC holds an 8-6 post-season record, with Texas still playing. While Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia’s losses were disappointing, it’s too small a sample to label them as a trend.

 

The daily briefing on Alabama athletics covers several key events, including updates on former players and coaches, team performances, and historic moments in Crimson Tide history.

Vinnie Sunseri has been named the defensive coordinator at Jacksonville State by Charles Kelly, a former Alabama defensive coach. Sunseri, a former Alabama safety who won two national championships with the team, brings coaching experience from Alabama, New England Patriots, and Washington.

Today’s Schedule: No events for the Crimson Tide.

Recent Results: Alabama women’s basketball defeated Florida 79-69.

Did You Notice?: Nick Saban reflected on how he handled kickers, contrasting with Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian’s moment with a kicker before a missed game-winning field goal.

Former Players in Coaching: Rob Ezell was named offensive coordinator at Wake Forest.

NFL Draft Declaration: Alabama punter James Burnip declared for