- Alabama Loses Second Star Player To Ohio State Week After Nick Saban’s Retirement
The Alabama Crimson Tide continue to bleed top recruits to Ohio State.
On Friday, top Alabama QB recruit Julian Sayin put his name in the transfer portal after Nick Saban’s retirement
“Alabama freshman Julian Sayin, the top-ranked quarterback in the Class of 2024, intends to enter the NCAA transfer portal, sources told ESPN.”
“The reason for Sayin initiating the process to depart Alabama, sources said, is that he came to play for Saban. Since Saban abruptly retired, Sayin is going to explore his options.”
It didn’t take long for Sayin to choose a new school. On Sunday, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Sayin will transfer to Ohio State.
It seems like Alabama is going to have a tough year next year without Saban, while Ohio State will benefit from Bama’s misfortune.
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Gators add commitment from transfer DB Jameer Grimsley
The college coaching carousel is getting crazier each year. This offseason has been a particularly wild one, and the Florida Gators were able to take advantage of it by adding a four-star prospect late to the 2024 class. After being the head coach at Alabama for the last 17 seasons, Nick Saban stepped down earlier this month and the Crimson Tide now have a new head man running the show.
That has caused several names from their roster to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal as of late. That also opened the door for the Florida Gators to snag Tampa (Fla.) Catholic four-star defensive back Jameer Grimsley, who entered the NCAA Transfer Portal recently after all the changes going on in Tuscaloosa. After enrolling, and even going through bowl game practices with the team in January, all the change in Tuscaloosa going on caused Grimsley to change course. He will now continue his athletic and academic career in Gainesville.
The Gators finished second for Grimsley this past summer when he committed to Alabama over Florida and Michigan. Despite that verbal pledge at the time, the Gators did not slow their efforts to try and flip him as the year went on. He attended the Gators match up against Georgia in Jacksonville, as well as their game against Florida State this past season. He also took an official visit to the program in December before signing day as well. He entered the NCAA Transfer Portal on January 18 during the 30 day window granted for players at Alabama due to the coaching change.
He had been recruited by former defensive back coach Corey Raymond, but new secondary coach Will Harris also targeted Grimsley late once he was hired as well. Head coach Billy Napier was also involved in the pursuit of Grimsley throughout the process as well. The consistent message from Napier during their pursuit of Grimsley as a prospect was he is the type of player the program needs.
“He was saying I am a priority, they need guys to come to Florida to try and get it to what it used to be. Winning the SEC, competing for National Championships. That is what he’s trying to bring back. He thinks I can be a part of something special.”
