Alabama women’s tennis signed Virginia transfer Zara Larke on Wednesday. Larke will join the Crimson Tide for the 2025 spring season after spending two years with the Cavaliers.

“We’re excited to have Zara join our team,” Alabama women’s tennis head coach Jonatan Berhane said in a press release. “Her previous collegiate tennis experience will be a great asset. She’s eager to compete for Alabama, and I am confident she’ll be an excellent teammate, both on and off the court. Roll Tide!”

Here’s a list of some of Larke’s tremendous accomplishments:

“I’m very excited to join the Alabama women’s tennis team and beyond grateful for this opportunity,” Larke said in a press release. “I’m looking forward to contributing to the team’s success and representing Alabama. Roll Tide!”

No events scheduled.

No results.

December 12, 1925: Alabama officially accepted an invitation to participate in the Rose Bowl vs. Washington, which at the time was known as the Purple Tornadoes. Coach Wallace Wade’s team told Rose Bowl officials it would accept the bid December 4. Alabama planned leave Tuscaloosa on December 19 and travel through St. Louis, Kansas City and the Grand Canyon before arriving in Pasadena for the Jan. 1 game.

December 12, 1986: Alabama coach Ray Perkins and Tampa Bay owner Hugh Culverhouse vehemently denied that Perkins would be leaving Alabama to become the new head coach of the Buccaneers.

December 12, 2009: Running back Mark Ingram Jr. won Alabama’s first Heisman Trophy.

December 12, 2015: Running back Derrick Henry won Alabama’s second Heisman Trophy.

“The legacy of Alabama football certainly had a void filled”

–– Nick Saban after Mark Ingram Jr. won the Heisman Trophy on this date in 2009

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs handed Duncanville High School quarterback Keelon Russell the 2024 Gatorade National Football Player of the Year Award on Tuesday.

Duncanville is about 40 miles south of the NFL team’s headquarters in Frisco, Texas, and the former Alabama standout made the trip to meet the quarterback who signed earlier this month to play for the Crimson Tide.

Diggs and the Cowboys have four more games remaining on their regular-season schedule while Russell and Duncanville have reached the semifinals of the University Interscholastic League Class 6A Division I playoffs. In the highest classification of high school football in Texas, the undefeated Panthers will square off against undefeated North Crowley on Saturday for a spot in the state-championship game.

“This is a great opportunity,” Diggs told Russell. “You worked hard, for sure. Putting your head down, working hard, you see where it got you, so I just want you to keep that same mindset, especially going into college. Keep your head down, work, don’t worry about nothing, focus on you and make sure you get that work done.”

ALABAMA FOOTBALL SIGNEE KEELON RUSSELL WINS GATORADE NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Six winners of the award have gone on to become first-round selections in the NFL Draft. Diggs indicated he expected to be playing against Russell in the pros.

“You’re a great player,” Diggs said. “That’s a great award. You’re going to go far. I’m going to see you soon.”

The award announcement came on Wednesday with Russell selected over the other two finalists, running back Alvin Henderson of Elba High School and offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell of Nixa (Missouri) High School.

Russell signed with Alabama on Dec. 4, the first day of the early signing period for the 2025 recruiting class.

After meeting a future Alabama quarterback, Diggs will play against a former Crimson Tide quarterback when the Cowboys take on Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers at noon CST Sunday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

Alabama quarterback Dylan Lonergan is expected to enter the NCAA transfer portal, On3’s Pete Nakos has learned.

Dylan Lonergan was ranked as a four-star recruit in the class of 2023. According to the On3 Industry rankings, he was the No. 13 quarterback and No. 162 overall player in the country in his class.

The news of Lonergan expecting to enter the transfer portal comes just a few days after Alabama was left out of the 2024 College Football Playoff. The Crimson Tide were right on the edge of being selected to the field, but were left out and SMU was picked for the at-large spot instead.

Lonergan originally chose Alabama over offers from Stanford, South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina and others.

The Georgia native attended Brookwood High School, prior to coming to Alabama. As a junior in high school, he accounted for 3,932 yards and 39 touchdowns. Lonergan was selected to the Under Armour All-America game after his senior year.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. 

Alabama in the transfer portal

Nine Alabama players have entered the NCAA transfer portal to this point in the cycle. Since the Crimson Tide were left out of the field, eight of those nine have officially entered their name into the portal. Most recently, it was wide receiver Caleb Odom, who is expected to field notable offers in the portal.

Instead of going to the College Football Playoff, Alabama will now look to end its season on a bowl victory. The Crimson Tide were chosen to the ReliaQuest Bowl, where they will face the Michigan Wolverines, who most recently defeated rival Ohio State.

Last year, Alabama and Michigan faced off head-to-head in the College Football Playoff. It was the Wolverines who made a goal line stand in that game to fight off Alabama and advance to the national championship.