Two players have decided to shorten their 2022 season in Alabama, and no, it’s not Bryce Young and Will Anderson.
Running back Trey Sanders, a consensus 5-star recruit who struggled with injuries during his career in Alabama, is on the transfer portal after the news broke Tuesday. The reaction from fans was sympathetic as many were saddened by the promising player’s departure and wished Sanders the best in his next step.
Cornerback Khyree Jackson is also in the transfer portal when the news broke the next day. However, Jackson’s departure was more controversial than Sanders once the facts were put in order.
Jackson was part of a secondary school that has garnered a lot of attention with several poor performances this season. He was a starting corner for head coach Nick Saban at certain points, but with Terrion Arnold and Eli Ricks alternating, the second corner alongside Kool-Aid McKinstry was always on thin ice.
Fast forward a few games and a reporter asked where Jackson had been (he wasn’t playing) and Saban simply answered the last question of the press conference with “he’s suspended” and walked out. That was the Monday before the news about the transfer portal broke.
Entering the transfer portal, Sanders and Jackson bring more attention to an Alabama program that already has its fair share of storylines, from Young and Anderson’s bowl game decisions to this year’s team meeting the Alabama standard does not match. But another plot that should get a little more notoriety is what this looks like for the talents who will wear the Crimson and White next season, specifically the two 5-star running backs in the 2023 Recruitment Class.
Justice Haynes and Richard Young are two of the top 3 running backs in the class, and both are committed to Alabama. With Sanders’ transfer, that’s one less returnee for the two recruits to fight for carries. Also, even if Jahmyr Gibbs declares himself for the NFL Daft — which he likely will, but it’s less certain than Young and Anderson — Jase McClellan, Roydell Williams and Jamarion Miller still remain in contention for RB1.
Scroll to Next
Haynes was also recently adamant about his engagement, saying it was “new to me” when a report came out saying Haynes would be moving to Georgia.
Running back is always a prime position, and it’s one that will soon have two more names in contention.
On the defensive end, it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to say that cornerback is a question-heavy position, and it would be more so if McKinstry were a draft choice. The next domino to fall will be whether Ricks decides to stay another year, go to the NFL, or make another move.
The vision of Ricks becoming the starting corner at Alabama was finally realized in recent games after early injuries and difficulties getting into the rotation, but if he leaves, only Arnold and Jaquez Robinson remain on the roster. Use Tony Mitchell, the consensus 5-star defender listed as safety but could potentially play the corner. Both he and Caleb Downs could be the answer for an Alabama defense that plays big nickels and dimes, and after this season’s performance, Saban and the defense could use all the defensive help possible.
See also: Alabama defensive back Khyree Jackson enters the NCAA transfer portal
Running back Trey Sanders enters the transfer portal
Get your Crimson Tide tickets from SI Tickets HERE