Michigan DB Keon Sabb quickly finds new home in the SEC

Three days after entering the NCAA transfer portal, Michigan’s Keon Sabb has apparently decided on his next stop.

And it’s down south.

The sophomore defensive back has enrolled at the University of Alabama and is planning to join the Crimson Tide’s football team in 2024, according to a report from the school’s name, image and likeness collective, Yea Alabama.

Aaron Suttles, a former reporter covering Alabama for The Athletic and creative director for the collective, broke the news late Monday on social media. Soon after, the Tuscaloosa News confirmed the report.

The news comes after Sabb, a 6-foot-1, 208-pound safety, had more than a dozen FBS schools reach out to him over the weekend. He made five starts at safety for the national champion Wolverines in 2023 and was a key part of the No. 1 secondary in the country, totaling 28 tackles, two interceptions and six pass breakups.

Sabb is set to enter his redshirt sophomore season with three years of eligibility remaining. A former four-star recruit, the Glassboro, N.J., native played four games as a true freshman for the Wolverines before working his way into the rotation in his second season.

Michigan is set to return both of its starting safeties this fall, Makari Paige and Rod Moore, while breaking in a new group of coaches. Not only has first-year head coach Sherrone Moore taken over for departed Jim Harbaugh, but has had to replace the defensive coordinator (Jesse Minter), co-coordinator and defensive backs coach (Steve Clinkscale) and safeties coach (Jay Harbaugh), all of whom left for the NFL.

Courtney Morgan, a former offensive lineman and director of player personnel at Michigan, is now the general manager for the new-look Alabama football team. Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer, formerly at Washington, coached against the Wolverines in the national championship.