Alabama Football’s Roster Changes in the 2026 NCAA Transfer Portal

With the college football calendar now set for 2026, the Alabama Crimson Tide is preparing for a period of roster transformation. Starting on Friday, January 2, the NCAA transfer portal will open for a two-week window, allowing Division I players to enter their names into an online database, making them eligible to move to another college football program.

The portal remains open from January 2 to January 16. Following this, teams that participate in the CFP National Championship Game will have an additional five-day portal period from January 20 to January 24. This window offers a crucial opportunity for teams to either lose or gain players as they prepare for the upcoming season.

Players Leaving Alabama via the NCAA Transfer Portal

Several key players from the Alabama football team have chosen to enter the NCAA transfer portal, signaling potential changes in the roster:

• Aeryn “Bubba” Hampton: Wide Receiver
• Kameron Howard: Defensive Back
• Roq Montgomery: Offensive Lineman
• Richard Young: Running Back
• Jaylen Mbakwe: Wide Receiver (committed to Georgia Tech)
• Joseph Ionata: Center
• MJ Chirgwin: Wide Receiver
• Jalen Hale: Wide Receiver
• Olaus Alinen: Offensive Lineman
• Noah Carter: Linebacker
• Peter Notaro: Kicker
• Micah DeBose: Offensive Lineman
• Cole Adams: Wide Receiver
• Wilkin Formby: Offensive Lineman
• Keon Keeley: Defensive Lineman
• Cam Calhoun: Defensive Back
• Qua Russaw: Linebacker
• David Bird: Long Snapper

These players are seeking new opportunities and may contribute to other programs across the country.

New Additions to the Alabama Football Team

In contrast, several players have entered the transfer portal with the intention of joining the Crimson Tide:

• Josh Ford: Tight End from Oklahoma State, with three seasons of eligibility remaining.
• Hollywood Smothers: Running Back from NC State, with two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Smothers made a significant impact by committing to Alabama after visiting Tuscaloosa on Sunday, January 4, as confirmed on Instagram.

Updates on Key Transfers

There have been several notable developments regarding transfers involving the Alabama football team:

• David Bird, the long snapper, has entered the NCAA transfer portal, as reported by 247Sports. He missed only one game against Eastern Illinois but handled all other snapping duties.
• Qua Russaw, a former four-star linebacker, has also entered the portal. He recorded 50 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, two sacks, and two interceptions over two seasons with the Tide.
• Rico Scott has returned to Alabama after initially entering the transfer portal. He was expected to rejoin the team after his initial decision.
• Jaylen Mbakwe committed to Georgia Tech, marking a significant loss for the Crimson Tide.
• Cam Calhoun has returned to the portal after playing at Michigan and Utah before joining Alabama.

Other notable departures include Keon Keeley, a 2023 five-star defensive lineman, who plans to explore new opportunities with two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Additional Player Movements

• Wilkin Formby, an offensive tackle with over 1,000 snaps, has entered the portal.
• Cole Adams, a wide receiver and returner, has decided to leave after three seasons.
• Micah DeBose, a freshman offensive lineman, has entered the portal after one redshirt season.
• Peter Notaro, the backup kicker, has also left the program.
• Noah Carter, a redshirt freshman linebacker, is among the 10th player to enter the portal.
• Olaus Alinen, an offensive guard, has announced his intent to transfer.
• Jalen Hale, a wide receiver, has exited the program after limited action in 2025.
• MJ Chirgwin, a walk-on wide receiver, has also entered the portal.
• Joseph Ionata, a backup center, has joined the list of players leaving the program.
• Jaylen Mbakwe, a former five-star cornerback, has moved to wide receiver and now seeks new opportunities.
• Richard Young, a running back, has also entered the portal.
• Roq Montgomery, an offensive lineman, has announced his intention to transfer.
• Kameron Howard, a defensive back, is the first player to announce his departure from the program.

Final Notes

As the 2026 season approaches, the Alabama football team will continue to monitor the transfer portal for any additional changes. The additions of players like Josh Ford and Hollywood Smothers indicate that the Crimson Tide is actively working to strengthen its roster. Meanwhile, the departures of several key players highlight the dynamic nature of college football and the constant movement of talent between programs.