Earlier this month, the Alabama Crimson Tide lost their legendary head coach as seven-time national champion coach Nick Saban suddenly decided to retire from coaching. And it sounds like the team is about to lose one of its top and most promising players, as well.
According to a report from college football insider Pete Thamel of The Athletic, Alabama Crimson Tide superstar safety Caleb Downs is expected to enter the transfer portal after a prolific freshman season with the team.
“Source: Alabama freshman All-American safety Caleb Downs is starting the process of entering the NCAA transfer portal. He was one of the country’s top freshman in 2023 and looms as a high pick in the 2026 NFL Draft,” Thamel said in a post on X, the social media website that was formerly known as Twitter.
Source: Alabama freshman All-American safety Caleb Downs is starting the process of entering the NCAA transfer portal. He was one of the country’s top freshman in 2023 and looms as a high pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. pic.twitter.com/u7Fe9bLxSD
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 17, 2024
Obviously, this is horrible news for Alabama as they will be losing one of their top players, and the college football world had a lot to say about it on social media as a result.
Best player in the country is a free agent https://t.co/WQUGJzTnKo
— Max Toscano (@maxtoscano1) January 17, 2024
This will be the most heavily pursued transfer in the country https://t.co/OXepol79fk
— Power Mizzou (@PowerMizzoucom) January 17, 2024
Osu and Georgia are the clear big ones here. https://t.co/GTfqTaTUJK
— OsuRecruiting (@OsuRecruiting2) January 17, 2024
Two bad Wednesdays in a row. I can’t. https://t.co/HQy6DUgY8d
— Alabama Outsider (@AlabamaOutsider) January 17, 2024
Pound for pound could be the best player in the country this is MASSIVE https://t.co/848mqAb7Xe
— Carter Donnick (@CDonnick1) January 17, 2024
A significant development for Clemson's week 1 opponent. Seems all but certain that he'll be lining up across Cade and co. https://t.co/5wkckhCq80
— Dear Old Clemson (@DearOldClemson) January 17, 2024
When Downs does enter the transfer portal, the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Georgia Bulldogs are expected to be the frontrunners to land him as they were two of his finalists before he decided to ultimately sign with Alabama out of high school.
About Kevin Harrish