Link: 2026 Transfer Portal

[GrayTide]

The article said there were three SEC teams, plus at least one other team which I inferred was not SEC.

I also guessed that Miami was the one that offered $6.5M, but Oregon is another likely suspect.

Tennessee for sure would love to get him to Knoxville.

 

[BamaInBham]

Thanks for the response.

I say a lot, but sometimes not enough. One poster took exception to my framing of an expenditure and another took it to mean I hadn't researched it, when in fact I just omitted details for brevity. I'm never quite sure how much information is enough to get the point across. So, apologies for saying too much and for not saying enough, heh.

In this case, I am speaking in hypotheticals because I have a somewhat deliberate outsider view of things. I don't really try to comment on what they're actually thinking, but rather what I think of what they're doing, could have done, or might be doing. So in this case even when I said "you don't" it doesn't mean I think "they did".

As to my specific frustrations, externally it looks like they went for big spends and bidding wars, regardless of what their actual restraints might be. They for instance went after a high profile RB they kinda had, a high profile WR that would cost millions, another big OL that would have been a big get and a big time defensive player, all ultimately misses and the latter three were after the RB committed, meaning they should have had enough for at least two of those.

I'm not mad they missed on any actually, I'm not sure that's the best use of money. But I can't comprehend doing those things if you don't have a reasonable sized budget. It to me would be weird, and then if the explanation is they have a sizable budget, my thoughts immediately go to some of the things I've said. I'm just having trouble following what it is they actually seem to be trying to do.

That aside, you in another post made some valid points. I'm a complainer in the sense that if I don't like something I say it. I don't call people names though, at least not specifically, and in this case I haven't called for firings either. Not the GM, not the head coach. I'm just disappointed right now is all.

When this is all said and done, if the team looks great next season I'll gladly, and happily say I was worried for nothing. Heck if this portal class closes strong after the weak start, I will be extremely happy. I'm just not sure what the strategy is here.

Sorry for the long response, heh...

Yes, you are right, it is logical to assume they do have a meaningful amount of money to spend on the portal. I didn’t think it through.

I do know that recruiting and retention have been their focus, but it’s obvious that they have not disregarded the portal just based on the examples of high dollar prospects you mentioned. If they had gotten Smothers and Peake, there would be a completely different feel to this portal class.

In essence the entire roster is in the portal, thus Alabama has signed Williams, Russell, Mack, Crowell, Simmons, Carroll, Lee, Brown, et al. That’s a different and legitimate way of looking at this portal class. And it is reasonable to wait until “all the returns are in” because there will be many more players enter the official portal and many more signings by many programs, hopefully including Alabama because OL is in desperate need of help and DL does not lag far behind.

 

[BamaHoopsBoi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2010558042538971384

Is he any good? I haven’t heard of him

 

[bamamc1]

How can we expect such an accomplishment with the collection of lazy, incompetent idiots, morons and fools that comprise this staff? At least according to bamamc1.

Please reference where I’ve referred to anyone as being idiots, morons, or fools? I’ll wait.

 

[Snuffy Smith]

Is he any good? I haven’t heard of him

On3 has him as a 4* coming out of high school. He had 55 carries for 240 yards last year at Texas & was expected to be a big contributor in the backfield in 2026 according to the Orange bunch

 

[tusks_n_raider]

A clown show?

What did we do wrong?

And how do we know this is what went down??

From JessN’s latest update:

Take: The Hollywood Smothers thing kind of sticks in my craw because the story floating around is that we may have tried to get him to sign for a lower number after agreeing to a higher number. As I put it earlier today, that's the kind of thing that has made me walk out of a car dealership before. That may be how the sausage is made these days but I don't like doing that kind of thing.

 

[gtgilbert]

He was told like Milroe that he wasn’t coming back in so many words. Year 3 was never going to be a Saban holdover at quarterback

wow - if that's the case, I'm even less fond of the staff. While Ty had a rough finish, his early season play was pretty dang impressive and I just don't understand why the staff wouldn't want that as a known quantity versus the unknown. I think KR is likely going to be amazing, but having a guy with a year of starts who's already had the growing pains versus someone having to get through that on field learning curve again just doesn't seem like the best path.

 

[AlexanderFan]

wow - if that's the case, I'm even less fond of the staff. While Ty had a rough finish, his early season play was pretty dang impressive and I just don't understand why the staff wouldn't want that as a known quantity versus the unknown. I think KR is likely going to be amazing, but having a guy with a year of starts who's already had the growing pains versus someone having to get through that on field learning curve again just doesn't seem like the best path.

Not a fan of the move either, but there’s no telling what kind of money is involved with Mack and Russell, along with any other dominoes that could fall if Simpson stayed another year.

I do agree that you just jettisoned the only quarterback with meaningful reps going into Knoxville and Baton Rouge this year.

 

[TD7]

wow - if that's the case, I'm even less fond of the staff. While Ty had a rough finish, his early season play was pretty dang impressive and I just don't understand why the staff wouldn't want that as a known quantity versus the unknown. I think KR is likely going to be amazing, but having a guy with a year of starts who's already had the growing pains versus someone having to get through that on field learning curve again just doesn't seem like the best path.

I agree with you and I read where his dad was talking about him going to the NFL and in that statement was saying that the staff absolutely wanted him back. So I'm not sure that others saying he was told to move on is exactly true. I'm not sure why his dad would lie about something like that, you don't tell a potential heisman trophy candidate to move on for 2 guys that are virtually unknowns without any meaningful snaps in college, but who knows.

"You coach players and help them reach their goals and dreams," Jason Simpson said. "Yes, they would love for him to come back. But if you've got an opportunity to go be a first-round pick in the NFL draft, you go. That's why they pour all that into you, for that individual opportunity, so I really appreciated them."

Bama QB Simpson says he's headed to NFL draft

Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is declaring for the NFL draft, he announced Wednesday on Instagram.

www.espn.com

 

[CajunCrimson]

Reason these programs trying to buy what they can while Deloitte is still trying to find its sea legs.
The interesting thing is that all student athletes in Division 1 and Division 2 are required to register with the clearinghouse as part of the eligibility process now. And the athletes are responsible for reporting NIL earnings. The clearinghouse then is suppose to evaluate whether the company is getting a legitimate ROI (I guess using some kind of sorcery) and what the “true market value” (sorcery again) of the student athlete involved.
This situation is just ripe for back door deals just like in old days with “$100 handshakes” except these are “$100k handshakes”.

I think some colleges are saying to heck with it and will wait and go to court. Because (in theory) if someone says I’m willing to pay you $10,000,000 to come in and sign footballs at my lumber yard, who’s to say that they can’t? Legally?

That’s what’s so funny about these teams that thrive right now. They act like it’s because it’s finally a “level” playing field now. When in fact all it takes is a few billionaires to flip the script. And if your college doesn’t have one, you are screwed.

If it stays like this, all of a sudden San Jose State will join the B1G, have a $50M payroll, hire Nick Sheridan to be a coach, go undefeated and all of a sudden he’s better than Saban too.

This whole thing is a really bad joke

 

[The Ols]

I’m assuming something dirty in all this. I could be wrong but how you do you commit and enroll only to leave in less than 48 hours?

Either way there are no rules so it will continue. Nobody has enough backbone to pull it back into order

 

[The Ols]

wow - if that's the case, I'm even less fond of the staff. While Ty had a rough finish, his early season play was pretty dang impressive and I just don't understand why the staff wouldn't want that as a known quantity versus the unknown. I think KR is likely going to be amazing, but having a guy with a year of starts who's already had the growing pains versus someone having to get through that on field learning curve again just doesn't seem like the best path.

Hypotheticals!!!

 

[BamaBen15]

Is he any good? I haven’t heard of him

Texas fans seem to really like him, and he played well in the bowl game against Michigan(20 carries for 105 yards and a TD).

These were Sark's comments during spring practice:

"He's got great balance and body control. He's got a really strong lower half. He's got natural-runner ability, and that's a hard thing to describe. But some of the things that runners do are very natural to him - the one-cut ability, the contact balance.

"He's got very good hands out of the backfield. So, encouraged by him. I was encouraged in the spring, but I'm more encouraged today, just of what he's done all summer long to get ready."

When a reporter said Clark looks like a 6-foot version of The Hulk, Sarkisian said, "He [Clark] has big quads. I don't know how big Saquon [Barkley's] are, but Christian's got big ones."

 

[CB4]

I think some colleges are saying to heck with it and will wait and go to court. Because (in theory) if someone says I’m willing to pay you $10,000,000 to come in and sign footballs at my lumber yard, who’s to say that they can’t? Legally?

That’s what’s so funny about these teams that thrive right now. They act like it’s because it’s finally a “level” playing field now. When in fact all it takes is a few billionaires to flip the script. And if your college doesn’t have one, you are screwed.

If it stays like this, all of a sudden San Jose State will join the B1G, have a $50M payroll, hire Nick Sheridan to be a coach, go undefeated and all of a sudden he’s better than Saban too.

This whole thing is a really bad joke

Agreed. The other thing(s): isn’t “the market value” of a player literally “what someone is willing to pay”? As example, a lending institution may say “your house is worth $500k”. But someone comes in and says “I love it, I’ll give you $750k”. Is the clearinghouse going to nullify any NIL that goes beyond their evaluation?. Additionally, the clearinghouse is going to force NIL deals to show a positive ROI? I see huge pushback from collectives saying “go pound sand”. We’ll spend our dollars where we see fit, positive return or not.

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

I’d love for him to rat them out publicly. Make the ones offering the money known.

Yep, definitely tampering!

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

Every player is in the portal. If they haven't entered the official portal, they are in a virtual portal in which the team staff has to recruit them if they want the player to stary out of the official portal.

Courteny Morgan has stated that player retention is their top priority with regard to NIL. The whole process is a huge juggling act when there is a limited supply of money.

Player retention is a huge part of his job!

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

Deloitte NCAA Clearinghouse - third party brought in as part of the House v. NCAA settlement.

Who runs Deloitte?

 

[CB4]

Who runs Deloitte?

It is a global accounting firm used by many of the Fortune 500 companies

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

They didn’t play either team.

If it's posted on the internet, it's got to be true!

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

Reason these programs trying to buy what they can while Deloitte is still trying to find its sea legs.
The interesting thing is that all student athletes in Division 1 and Division 2 are required to register with the clearinghouse as part of the eligibility process now. And the athletes are responsible for reporting NIL earnings. The clearinghouse then is suppose to evaluate whether the company is getting a legitimate ROI (I guess using some kind of sorcery) and what the “true market value” (sorcery again) of the student athlete involved.
This situation is just ripe for back door deals just like in old days with “$100 handshakes” except these are “$100k handshakes”.

Yeah, this system is rife with flaws.

The first flaw is that the Athletes report their NIL earnings...riiiiggght!

Me thinks Deloitte will be just another corrupt organization and will probably turn out to be more of a dealer.