Alabama
Alabama’s Football Welcomes ‘No Bad Days’ Speaker: Roll Call, August 6, 2024
Alabama’s tradition of getting prominent speakers to address the football team during fall call continued with head coach Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide welcoming Hunter Pinke. He was a tight end and team captain for North Dakota before breaking his back in a skiing accident in 2019. The spinal-cord injury left Pinke paralyzed from chest down. He was subsequently a member of Arizona’s wheelchair basketball team and is now a motivational speaker.
“I don’t actually know for fact that y’all are gonna win a national championship this year, but the direction has been set. It’s to be a champion everyday,” Pinke said in reference to the comparison between the two percent chance he walks again and the uncertainty of the future in anything, such as football.
No Bad Days. 🥛 pic.twitter.com/rOqvYXKh7i
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) August 5, 2024
DeBoer had Pinke, who has a ‘No Bad Days’ mantra, speak to his team last year at Washington. Former head coach Nick Saban was known for brining in speakers during fall camp and DeBoer wants to continue the custom.
“We will certainly have some guys. I think first year especially, It’s important to me to lay that culture, make sure it’s right where we want it,” DeBoer said during a recent post-practice press conference when asked about if guest speakers would be invited during his time in Tuscaloosa.
Former Alabama standout cornerback Terrion Arnold was being evaluated for a concussion after taking a big blow from opposing lineman, Andrew Thomas, during a joint practice between the Lions and Giants. Arnold was selected 24th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft by Detroit. He’s is vying for a starting corner position.
📢 You’ll want the sound up for this. 😱
You can feel the hit Giants LT Andrew Thomas puts on Lions rookie CB Terrion Arnold.
The kid stayed up, though. pic.twitter.com/0SpCPSNvGI
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano) August 5, 2024
Incidentally, there were more than 10 fights during the joint practice. Lions head coach Dan Campbell said “I told them, man, like we always do, we’re competing. We’re not pulling back. But this will be evaluated like a game, so if you do something that’s going to cost us in a game that’s part of the evaluation.”
• Morgan Dennis Morris was named the new director of operations for the gymnastics program. The former Crimson Tide gymnast was the 2007 floor exercise national champion. Robin Kelley retired earlier this week after serving in the role for 20-plus years.
All-American and national champion as a @UA_Athletics gymnast? ☑️
Teammates with @ApriessJohnston when the program captured its sixth @SEC title? ☑️
Returning home as the program’s new Director of Operations? ☑️
Get to Re-Know Morgan Dennis Morris at the link below! — Alabama Gymnastics (@BamaGymnastics) August 5, 2024
• Former Alabama defensive lineman Braylen Ingraham, who transferred to Syracuse to give football another shot, suffered an Achilles tear that will likely end his playing career. “He will not be playing at Syracuse anymore,” head coach Fran Brown told reporters, adding that he hopes to get him into coaching after surgery. The injury didn’t happen during fall camp, with Brown only saying it happened “a while ago.”
• On August 4, former Alabama softball pitcher, Kayla Beaver, started her first game in the Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball League.
Kayla Beaver gets the start now on ESPN2!#RollTide https://t.co/SdL7dKY6yq
— Alabama Softball (@AlabamaSB) August 4, 2024
• Former Alabama and Oklahoma quarterback, Jalen Hurts, was named ambassador for Global Flag Football.
Jalen Hurts lit the flame 🔥 at the LA Coliseum for the 2028 Olympics. Jalen is the Global Flag Football Ambassador. — John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) August 5, 2024
Flag football will be an official sport at LA28.
🎥 @NFL
pic.twitter.com/yn9URZJryy
• Former Alabama kicker Will Reichard drilled a 58-yard field goal in practice. Among the rookies especially he’s been the buzz of training camp with the Vikings.
Will Reichard from 58 pic.twitter.com/8F2cPHEZY5
— Sean Borman (@SeanBormanNFL) August 4, 2024
25 Days
August 6, 1968: Former Alabama running back Siran Stacy was born in Geneva, Ala.
August 6, 1986: On the opening day of practice, Coach Ray Perkins said his team was a top-five squad if it can overcome one of the nation’s most challenging schedules. ‘We play Ohio State, Florida, Notre Dame, Penn State, LSU and Auburn. That’s a real challenge,” Perkins said.
“I was down in Geneva, Alabama, at a place called ‘The Bottom.’ I saw it on black and white TV one Saturday morning. You had to twist the antenna just to get a signal. I saw a man standing under the goal post and a whole bunch of guys running on the field wearing red jerseys. That ignited a dream inside me. I said from that moment on, ‘I’m going to play for that man.’”
– Siran Stacy
Alabama
Who has Alabama football lost in the transfer portal so far?
Alabama football has already seen some of its roster clear out via the transfer portal in the days following its loss to Indiana in the Rose Bowl. The Crimson Tide will likely see more attrition in the coming days, with players allowed to enter through Jan. 16.
As of Monday morning, 15 Alabama players had entered the portal. Here’s a look at what the Crimson Tide is losing via transfer.
Cam Calhoun
The Utah transfer was a backup cornerback for the Crimson Tide this season. He played a major role on special teams but had trouble cracking the lineup on defense for Alabama.
Calhoun began his college career at Michigan
Rico Scott
Scott was perhaps the fastest receiver on the team, but there were too many players on the depth chart ahead of him. Scott finished the year with 11 catches for 55 yards.
Keon Keeley
When he arrived in Tuscaloosa, Keeley was one of the nation’s top recruits, at the edge position. After a year with the Tide, he moved over to the more traditional defensive end spot that Kane Wommack calls the “bandit.”
Keeley finally was able to make an impact on the field this year after two season on the bench. He likely could have played an increased role with LT Overton off to the NFL, but opted to portal instead.
Wilkin Formby
Formby moved around in Alabama’s lineup during the 2025 season, his first as a full-time starter. He began the year at tackle, but wound up playing right guard as Michael Carroll took over the outside spot.
Cole Adams
Adams was the Crimson Tide’s primary punt returner. However, he didn’t have much of a role at wide receiver.
The Oklahoma native had five catches for 71 yards and a touchdown this season.
Micah DeBose
DeBose joined Alabama as a highly touted recruit before the 2025 season. He saw action in just one game for the Crimson Tide this year, against Eastern Illinois.
Peter Notaro
The Alabama kicking game was an issue at times during the 2025 season. Notaro battled with Conor Talty for the starting job in preseason camp, but Talty eventually earned the spot.
Notaro was a five-star kicker in the 2025 recruiting class according to Kohl’s.
Noah Carter
Carter was a four-star edge recruit for the Crimson Tide ahead of the 2024 season. He redshirted that season, but got more action in 2025.
He finished the year with nine total tackles before deciding to find greener pastures.
Olaus Alinen
Alinen was not a major part of what was an extremely large offensive line rotation this season. The member of Alabama’s 2023 recruiting class earned the most praise from coaches due to his versatility, with the native of Finland able to play both guard and tackle.
Jalen Hale
Hale was a contributor at receiver in 2023, before a major leg injury cost him the 2024 campaign. He returned in 2025, but wasn’t able to get significant playing time at receiver given the amount of talent ahead of him.
Joseph Ionata
Ionata was listed as Alabama’s backup center during the 2025 season. However, when it came down to it, Geno VanDeMark slid to the spot if Parker Brailsford needed to leave the field.
The redshirt freshman did see some playing time on special teams.
Jaylen Mbakwe
Mbakwe joined Alabama as a five-star prospect in the 2024 class and proceeded to have an interesting career in Tuscaloosa. He spent most of 2024 as a defensive back, before deciding to enter the transfer portal, then backing out and switching to wide receiver before the ReliaQuest Bowl.
He stuck at wideout for 2025, without seeing major playing time at that position.
Richard Young
Some turnover among Alabama’s running backs came as no surprise. Young was thought of as a potential starter at running back, but got lost in a struggling rotation.
He finished 2025 with 23 carries for 64 yards and two touchdowns.
Roq Montgomery
Montgomery did not see the field during the 2025 season. He had been a special teams contributor in 2024, and saw some snaps on the offensive line as well.
Kam Howard
Howard spent two seasons as a cornerback in Tuscaloosa after transferring in from Charlotte. He didn’t play much in 2025, finishing the year with two tackles.
Alabama
A major overhaul ahead for the Alabama Crimson Tide offensive line
The first phase of good news for the Alabama Crimson Tide is happening. While indications are the two best Alabama offensive linemen will move to the NFL, there are eight other (and counting) offensive linemen who not return for the 2026 season. Three are out of eligibility: Jaeden Roberts, Kam Dewberry, and Geno Van DeMark. Five more are portal entries: Micah DeBose, Joe Ionata, Olaus Alinen, Roq Montgomery, and Wilkin Formby.
Why is the attrition good news? There are two reasons. Kalen DeBoer’s offensive lines have needed skill sets in short supply the last two seasons. His offense needs agile, quick-footed offensive linemen. Not many Alabama football fans will disagree, but for those who do, when two late-season games (Georgia and Indiana) are lost by a combined 56 points, a major overhaul is required.
For an offensive line overhaul, the Crimson Tide needed to free up roster slots, to improve talent, and reallocate money. The count of returning offensive linemen (as of late afternoon on Jan. 4) is six: Mike Carroll, Casey Poe, Jackson Lloyd, Mal Waldrep, Red Sanders, and Arkel Anugwon. In addition, the 2026 class added five more: Tyrell Miller (JUCO), Jared Doughty, Chris Booker, Bear Fretwell, and Bryson Cooley
Next for the Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama could get lucky and have Parker Brailsford decide to play another season of college ball. Assuming that luck will not occur, three or four offensive linemen need to be added through the Portal. At least two of them need to be tabbed as near-locks to start in next fall’s season opener.
So far, the only target known publicly is Texas State center, Brock Riker. New targets are expected to surface soon, some of whom may not be in the portal yet. According to Yahoo Sports, Riker has been targeted by at least nine Power Four programs, with more offers expected soon.
The large number of transfer exits may be an indication that offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic will also move on. Many Alabama football fans are looking forward to DeBoer bringing in a new OL coach.
Alabama
Alabama outside linebacker to reportedly enter NCAA transfer portal
According to a report from ESPN’s Max Olson, Alabama Crimson Tide outside linebacker Noah Carter is set to enter the NCAA transfer portal following two seasons in Tuscaloosa.
Carter is the first Alabama outside linebacker to enter the transfer portal so far this cycle.
The outside linebacker originally came to Alabama as a member of the Crimson Tide’s 2024 class, and was one of the first big commitments of the Kalen DeBoer era. Then, Carter was rated as the nation’s No. 109 overall prospect, as well as No. 9 edge rusher nationally, out of Centennial High School in Arizona, per the 247Sports Composite rankings.
During his two seasons at Alabama, Carter posted a combined 11 tackles and 0.5 TFL across 14 games played. The outside linebacker appeared in 11 games this past season, posting nine tackles and 0.5 TFL.
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