Alabama gets commitment from standout transfer LB from ACC program
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Alabama has made its first defensive splash in this transfer portal cycle, getting a commitment on Tuesday afternoon from Virginia Tech linebacker Caleb Woodson.
On3’s Hayes Fawcett shared Woodson’s commitment to the Crimson Tide, as the linebacker will head from the ACC to the SEC in 2026. Alabama was in serious need of help at the linebacker position, with Deontae Lawson, Nikhai Hill-Green and Justin Jefferson all leaving.
Enter Woodson, who piled up 151 tackles, 3 pass deflections, 2 sacks and 1 interception during his 3 seasons in Blacksburg. He’ll have one more year of eligibility, and Woodson will spend that one year in Tuscaloosa for a program that’s looking for a little more after being eliminated in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
Woodson not only represents needed relief at the linebacker position, he also represents Alabama’s first addition on defense as a whole since the portal officially opened for business on Friday. The Tide had already added Oklahoma State tight end Josh Ford and earlier this week got a huge commitment from NC State star running back Hollywood Smothers.
Finally, it was the defense’s turn to get an infusion of talent, and Woodson provides that.
Woodson also posted 11.5 tackles-for-loss during his time at Virginia Tech, so he gives Alabama a difference-maker who can get in the opponents’ backfield. He finished 2nd on the Hokies this past season with 58 tackles even though he missed 3 games.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder from the 2023 recruiting cycle is a Virginia product who played 325 of his 378 total snaps this past season while lined up in the box. Woodson began his career at Virginia Tech splitting his time between the box and the slot corner position.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
