By Chris Marler
Alabama has more question marks going into 2026 than they’ve had in any season in nearly 20 years. Preseason rankings are several months away, but it looks like this will assuredly be the lowest they’ve been ranked going into a season since 2007. A large reason for that is the amount of players Alabama lost and were unable to retain. The portal was massive for them to bring in some seasoned veterans and instant impact players. They failed to do that at the level several other SEC teams did, but they still had a successful portal haul overall.
Here’s Alabama Report-al Card with input from Alabama insider Clint Lamb from Cover Crimson.
By the Numbers
Players Lost: 21
Players Gained: 16
247Sports Ranking: No. 15
On3 Ranking: No. 46
Headliner – DL Devan Thompkins (USC)
Alabama had several position needs, but none more than in the trenches on the offensive and defensive line. They lost all three of their bandit players on the defensive line off last year’s team. Thompkins fills an immediate need there and just so happens to also be the second highest ranked player in the portal at that position. He should be a starter from day one and provides a ton of experience at a high level from another blue blood program.
“Has the ability to play Bandit or inside. Was an early addition, so didn’t quite get the recognition that he deserved, but he was an important get for Alabama.” – Lamb
Did an All-22 dive on new Alabama transfer Devan Thompkins from Southern Cal. Here are a few of his best plays from last year. Got more on him coming shortly. pic.twitter.com/oXXNlMw2NC
— Chase Goodbread (@ChaseGoodbread) January 16, 2026
Biggest Loss – DL James Smith (to Ohio State)
Losing Smith wasn’t a huge surprise to some close to the program, but it definitely hurt. He was one of the key pieces off last year’s defensive line as well as a former top 50 recruit out of high school and now a top ten player overall in this year’s portal cycle. Smith was one of the most highly sought after players in the portal and landed at Ohio State. He became the fifth player in the last two years that left Alabama for the Buckeyes.
He played in 36 career games for Alabama and racked up 2.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss this season.
BREAKING: Alabama transfer DL James Smith and EDGE Qua Russaw have Committed to Ohio State, they tell @On3sports
Both were ranked as five-star recruits coming out of high school and are among the top players in the portal https://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7q pic.twitter.com/643ol8vgYd
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 12, 2026
Instant Impact – DL Terrance Green (Oregon)
The Alabama defensive line consists of at least one big body in the middle to anchor Kane Wommack’s defense. Last year that was Tim Keenan. Green is similar in weight to Keenan but three inches taller which makes him a mountain to move inside as well as throw over for opposing quarterbacks. He’s the No. 5 ranked defensive lineman in this year’s portal class and another top 65 ranked player overall.
Alabama had clear concerns on how to shore up their defensive front, and their two highest ranked players brought in were both boxes checked at that position.
“With Alabama losing Keenan to eligibility, the defensive front needed a big-bodied nose to come in and shore up the middle of the defense. At 6-5, 330 pounds, Green does just that.” – Lamb
Watching Terrance Green film. Enjoyed these two clips. pic.twitter.com/klxl5X9KZN
— tc (@Goat_Latia) January 18, 2026
Biggest Sleeper – WR Noah Rogers (NC State)
Rogers fits another immediate need after Alabama lost a ton of production at the wide receiver position. He was a two year player for NC State and racked up 68 catches, 929 yards and three touchdowns. He was a reliable target catching at least two passes in 20 of his 26 games for the Wolfpack. For a team that desperately needed bodies at the very least for the receiving corps, Rogers does that and more.
He was another top 200 overall player and the No. 36 ranked wide receiver in this year’s cycle with offers from Auburn and Penn State.
NC State’s Noah Rogers goes second level 🪜#SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/7MEx5jN8Hg
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 19, 2025
Overall Grade: C+
Alabama didn’t hit a lot of home runs in this cycle like other teams in the conference, and they swung and missed on a few players that would’ve been big gets. Still, they were able to hit on several key needs. The three biggest position unit needs were offensive line, defensive line, and wide receiver, and 13 of the 16 players they brought in were at one of those three positions.
Just for good measure one of the three players who didn’t play those positions was a kicker from Ireland who was 9-of-11 from 40+ yards including a long of 55.
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