Portal defections at receiver paint grim picture of recent Alabama recruiting
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On Saturday, Alabama receiver Cole Adams revealed his intention to enter the transfer portal. The move reduced the Crimson Tide’s receiver room to just 6 players for the 2026 season, a number that includes Isaiah Horton, who is still weighing an NFL Draft declaration.
The numbers aren’t great. That can certainly change. But the Adams departure also hints at a deeper issue: Alabama’s recent recruitment at wide receiver has been riddled with misses.
Bama247’s Mike Rodak was quick to point out on Saturday that every receiver Alabama signed in recruiting classes from 2020-23 entered the transfer portal and left the team. Isaiah Bond, Emmanuel Henderson, and Kendrick Law, who were all classified in different position groups as recruits but played receiver for the school, factor into the equation here as well.
Adams is the third Alabama receiver to enter the portal since it opened earlier this week. He joins Jaylen Mbakwe and Jalen Hale. Aeryn Hampton also left the team last August.
Depending on Horton’s decision, Alabama will be left with Ryan Williams, Lotzeir Brooks, Rico Scott, Derek Meadows, and 2026 signee Cederian Morgan at receiver. The Crimson Tide figure to be major buyers in the receiver market this offseason.
Brooks should have a role next fall after catching 32 passes for 441 yards and 2 scores as a freshman.
Outside of him, Alabama’s evaluation and development at the position of late have been questionable. Scott, a 4-star signee in the 2024 class, regularly got on the field as a redshirt freshman but didn’t make much of an impact on the offense. Meadows, the higher-rated receiver from the 2025 class, didn’t record a catch.
Kalen DeBoer needs a breakthrough season from Ryan Williams, a 5-star signee in 2024. Williams was electric as a true freshman, but his sophomore campaign can only really be described as a disappointment.
He had 1 more reception but nearly 200 fewer yards and 4 fewer touchdown catches. Williams went off for 165 yards against Wisconsin on Sept. 13, but that was his only 100-yard game of the year. He was held without multiple catches in a game 4 times.
A big year from Williams in 2026, combined with continued development from Brooks, will have Alabama in a good place. If not, though, the Tide are going to need to retrofit the room with the portal.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
