Former Alabama WR Isaiah Bond announces SEC transfer
Former Alabama WR Isaiah Bond will play SEC football in 2024. Bond announced Sunday that he is transferring to Texas.
Bond called his decision to transfer to Texas a “business decision” prompted by Nick Saban’s retirement. Bond’s business is his NFL Draft stock, which he feels will best be managed in Austin.
“Just like the business world, you make the best decision for your company,” Bond told ESPN in a phone interview Sunday. “My company right now is my draft stock. I feel like I’m putting myself in position to increase that and have better draft stock.”
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 14, 2024
As for choosing Texas, Bond was drawn to the opportunity to play for returning standout quarterback Quinn Ewers in Steve Sarkisian’s system. (While Sarkisian has Alabama ties, Bond’s Crimson Tide career did not begin until after Sarkisian had left Tuscaloosa to begin his Texas tenure.)
Bond said playing for Steve Sarkisian and with QB Quinn Ewers were main attractions. “One hundred percent,” he said of Ewers. “He’s a great big-time pocket passer quarterback. He’s a top pick in the draft next year. I’m also going to be a top pick. It’s going to be a good duo.”
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 14, 2024
Bond was Alabama’s receptions leader in 2023 with 48 catches for 668 yards and 4 touchdowns. Senior Jermaine Burton led the Tide wideouts in production with 39 catches for 798 yards and 8 TDs. The departures of both Bond and Burton leave some big shoes to fill in the Alabama receiver room.
Ewers and Sarkisian will be thrilled to add Bond to a receiving room that is replacing its top two wideouts. Xavier Worthy led the team with 75 catches for 1,014 yards. Adonai Mitchell, though, was the team’s leader in receiving scores, posting 11 touchdowns on 55 catches for 845 yards. Worthy and Mitchell have both declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.
After completing a nonconference home-and-home, Alabama and Texas are not scheduled to meet in the 2024 regular season.
