On both sides of the nation, the aftermath around Nick Saban’s announcement of his retirement is still ongoing.
With previous coach Kalen DeBoer joining Alabama, the football team has seen a major departure. DeBoer is now
struggling with his own defections, as a number of outstanding players, most recently tight end Amari Niblack, have
departed the squad.
Hayes Fawcett wrote on Sunday, “BREAKING: Alabama TE Amari Niblack plans to enter the Transfer Portal, he tells
@on3sports.” The 6’5 240 TE was listed by On3 as the No. 1 TE in the ’22 Class and a 5-Star Recruit. Totaled 20
receptions for 327 yards & 4 TDs in 2023. will still be eligible for two years.
After Nick Saban’s retirement, Alabama football star players have left the program before. Wide receiver Isaiah Bond
made the announcement that he would be leaving the Crimson Tide and moving to Texas only hours before the
Amari Niblack hit.
Aside from Bond, the most of the transfers from Alabama and Washington have not disclosed where they want to
play collegiate football in 2024. And while it will be interesting to watch where a player with Niblack’s potential to be
a game-changer goes, it will also be interesting to watch if any of Kalen DeBoer’s Huskies, who recently played in the
national championship game but lost to the same team that Alabama did in Michigan, can upset the Crimson Tide.
There are numerous former Washington football players who coudl make sense to the Tide, including offensive
lineman Nate Kalepo and starting defensive backs Mishael Powell and Jabbar Muhammad, who have all entered the
transfer portal since DeBoer fled for the SEC.
