In a brutal afternoon for the Crimson Tide, Alabama suffered back-to-back setbacks in the transfer portal on January 11, 2026, as two highly coveted prospects slipped away to rival Texas. First, former Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman, the consensus top wideout in the portal and a former five-star recruit, announced his commitment to the Longhorns after visiting Tuscaloosa. This loss stings deeply for Kalen DeBoer and staff, who were hoping to add a dynamic playmaker to an offense that struggled with receiving production in 2025.
The hits kept coming when NC State running back Hollywood Smothers, who had publicly committed to Alabama just days earlier on January 5, dramatically flipped his decision to Texas. Smothers, ranked as one of the top running backs available and coming off a 939-yard season with the Wolfpack, was seen as the perfect fix for Alabama’s anemic run game that averaged under 4 yards per carry last year. The quick reversal has left fans and analysts questioning NIL negotiations and recruitment execution.
Meanwhile, Texas is celebrating a massive double-dip, pairing Coleman with Arch Manning and adding Smothers alongside recent RB addition Raleek Brown from Arizona State. The Longhorns’ portal haul has them surging to the top of national rankings, while Alabama faces a scramble with the window closing on January 16. Insiders point to potential internal issues, like unsigned NIL deals, as factors in the Smothers flip.
These tough moments come amid broader portal turbulence for the Crimson Tide, who have seen departures and are now prioritizing trench additions like defensive lineman Kedrick Bingley-Jones. The losses underscore the cutthroat nature of the modern transfer era, where even verbal commitments can evaporate overnight.
Roll Tide fans are reeling from today’s portal drama, but with time left and other targets in play, Alabama’s staff will look to regroup and reload. The offseason chess game continues—expect more twists ahead!
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