TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama landed its first transfer portal commitment of the winter window on Tuesday evening when Florida defensive lineman Kelby Collins announced his commitment to the Tide. Collins, a former four-star recruit from Gardendale, Ala., has two years of eligibility remaining and will be counted on as an instant impact player for Alabama’s 2025 defense.

In two years at Florida, Collins recorded 29 tackles, three sacks and 15 quarterback hurries in 18 career games.

Roll tide😁

— Kelby Collins (@kelby_collins) December 18, 2024

What does this mean for Alabama?

Collins, 6 feet 4 and 278 pounds, was a budding star at Florida in 2023 with 23 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, four quarterback hurries, a pass breakup and a forced fumble en route to being named to the All-SEC freshman team and The Athletic’s freshman All-America team. He wasn’t as productive in 2024 with just six tackles in six games, but the potential is there.

Collins’ path is similar to current defensive lineman LT Overton — a highly ranked prospect who committed to another program over Alabama out of high school but landed with the Tide the second time around. It’s indicative of the new college football landscape and the importance of relationships, where losing a recruiting battle in high school doesn’t completely close the door with the portal.

Most of Alabama’s staff wasn’t with the program in 2023, but position coach Freddie Roach remains and was a key component in getting Collins to Tuscaloosa. The Overton addition was beneficial for Alabama this season, and there is hope that Collins can produce something similar in 2025.

Roll tide😁

— Kelby Collins (@kelby_collins) December 18, 2024

Collins’ commitment fills a glaring need for the 2025 defense on the defensive line. The Tide could lose their entire starting unit with Overton, Tim Keenan, Tim Smith and Jah-Marien Latham all possibly moving on to the NFL after this season. Collins’ physical profile fits the bandit position (where Overton and Latham play) as the defensive end with pass-rush responsibilities.

Collins’ production is encouraging, and he will join rising star James Smith on a defensive line that will look much different next season.

With Collins’ commitment and Jaylen Mbakwe and Danny Lewis Jr. returning to the team, Alabama is at 85 total scholarships entering 2025. That number includes current Alabama players who have yet to make NFL decisions.

Collins likely will not be the final portal addition. Alabama is looking to add at several positions, including at wide receiver, on the offensive and defensive lines and at linebacker.

(Photo: Matt Pendleton / USA Today)

Alabama freshman cornerback Jaylen Mbakwe plans to enter the transfer portal, he told On3 Sports Monday night and confirmed in a social media post.

A Pinson, Alabama native, Mbakwe was a five-star recruit that was rated as the No. 12 overall prospect and No. 2 cornerback nationally in the 2024 class, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings.

Mbakwe had committed to and signed with the Crimson Tide under Nick Saban, but stuck with the program after Saban’s retirement and Kalen DeBoer’s hiring last January.

REQUIRED READING: Scouting Keelon Russell: Why Alabama football’s 2025 QB recruit will ‘rise to the challenge’

In his first and potentially only season with Alabama, Mbakwe played 11 of the team’s 12 regular-season games and finished with 15 tackles, one tackle for loss, two pass break-ups and an interception.

In a post on Instagram, Mbakwe described his move as a “business decision.”

“This was not an easy decision, but I believe it’s the best step for my personal and professional development and the future I’m working towards for myself and my family,” he wrote.

Mbakwe no longer appears on the 2024 Alabama football roster and a link to his profile page on the team’s official website now comes up with an error message.

Given his lofty standing coming out of Clay-Chalkville High School in Pinson, Mbakwe’s departure drew significant interest and curiosity from those around college football, but particularly those in Alabama, who were trying to parse social media posts from other Crimson Tide football players to decipher any possible meaning from them.

Alabama star freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams posted an Instagram story Monday night of a picture of him and Mbakwe, along with the caption “Bingo we got action,” with elephant and bullseye emojis. Williams and Mbakwe are close friends and co-hosts of a podcast, “The New Wave.”

Though the Crimson Tide are set to bring back Domani Jackson and fellow five-star freshman Zabien Brown, Mbakwe becomes the third Alabama defensive back to hit the transfer portal this offseason, joining cornerback Jahlil Hurley and safety DeVonta Smith.

The exits come after an underwhelming first season in Tuscaloosa for DeBoer, the former Washington coach, whose team went 9-3 and wasn’t selected for the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff.

It’s National Wright Brothers Day. I’d exercise caution if you celebrate by flying your drone, though. We’re a little on edge about those right now.

Also, you don’t want to accidentally buzz a tree stand this time of year.

Thanks for reading,

Ike

Sick poultry

A pair of fowl sites have been quarantined after an outbreak of avian flu, reports AL.com’s Howard Koplowitz.

About 116,000 chickens have been killed at a Cullman broiler farm. Add to that 70 birds in a Pickens County backyard flock that included guineas, ducks, turkey and chicken.

The Cullman broilers, Pickens chickens and others were put down to stop the spread of the flu. Poultry within a 6.2-mile radius of the broiler farm are being tested and monitored.

So be on the alert if you keep chickens, especially in the affected areas. The agriculture commissioner and state veterinarian issued a joint statement calling for commercial and backyard poultry operators to monitor the health of your flock and to keep your birds enclosed if possible, and certainly away from other birds. The Agriculture Department added a list of recommendations that includes cleaning vehicle and equipment, limiting visitors to the area, cleaning shoes in a clean foot bath, changing clothes after you come into contact with birds, and avoid touching sick or dead poultry.

The CDC considers bird flu low-risk to humans.

Private-school funds

The Choose Act is nearly here. Beginning Jan. 2, you can apply for up to $7,000 in private-school financing for the K-12 student in your family, reports AL.com’s Rebecca Griesbach.

The money will be deposited into an education savings account, or ESA, for students to use on tuition and other specified educational needs.

Alabama residents between the ages of 5 and 19 who have not graduated from high school may apply. If the students have a disability they can be up to 21 years old.

Students with special needs will receive the first 500 ESAs, and after that priority will go to siblings of eligible students, students in military families zoned to priority schools and students in families whose income is no more than three times the federal poverty level.

For a family of four, for example, three times the poverty level is currently $93,600.

Again, the application process opens up Jan. 2. We’ll have more on the Choose Act and ESAs as that time approaches.

Lake Martin tragedy

Longtime Auburn football chaplain Chette Williams died Sunday night after falling into Lake Martin, reports AL.com’s Carol Robinson.

Authorities said Williams and a neighbor had docked at a restaurant in Alexander City but found out it was closed for a private party. As they went to leave in Williams’ pontoon boat he fell between the dock and the boat. That was about 5:45 p.m. His body was recovered at 7:19 p.m.

Williams played linebacker at Auburn during the early 1980s. He was ordained in 1988 and became Auburn’s football chaplain in 1999 during coach Tommy Tuberville’s era.

Now-Sen. Tuberville posted on social media: “Brother Chette was a remarkable man who led hundreds of young people to the Lord through the years. … His leadership has been a steady part of Auburn athletics for more than two decades. But more than sports, Brother Chette helped athletes understand that their purpose was much greater than anything they could ever accomplish on the field.”

Williams also served as Auburn’s campus director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was the FCA’s state director for urban ministries.

Chette William was 61 years old.

RIP Etta Freeman, 107

Etta Freeman, a Decatur teacher for more than half a century, passed away over the weekend at 107 years old, reports AL.com’s Heather Gann.

Freeman was born the summer the U.S. joined World War I, on July 27, 1917.

She graduated from Decatur Negro High and went to college at Alabama State College and Alabama A&M to earn her bachelor’s in elementary education.

More than 300 former students turned out for a big birthday celebration when she turned 90 — 17 years ago.

Quoting

“Today marks the 205th anniversary of Alabama becoming a state. To find out what life was like in Alabama 205 years ago, go to Mississippi.”

Saturday Night Live’s Michael Che, a New York native, during the show’s most recent “Weekend Update.”

By the Numbers

$30 million

That’s what two former Hoover High football players are seeking in a lawsuit alleging they were abused by coaches at practice.

More Alabama News

Born on this Date

In 1935, actor George Lindsey of Fairfield. He was Goober on the Andy Griffith Show, Mayberry RFD and Hee Haw.

In 1939, Singer Eddie Kendricks of Union Springs. (His family moved to Birmingham when he was young.) He was a singer with the Temptations during the 60s. He sang lead on hits including “The Way You Do the Things You Do.”

The podcast