Alabama and verbally committed to the Crimson Tide via the transfer portal on January 5, 2026, only to dramatically flip his decision to Texas just days later on January 11. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound standout, who led the ACC with 85.4 rushing yards per game and totaled 939 yards with six touchdowns on 160 carries in 2025, had already begun the enrollment process in Tuscaloosa. However, he never signed the formal NIL agreement or financial paperwork, leaving a critical loophole that kept his options open amid the chaotic NIL landscape.
The flip stemmed from Alabama’s apparent oversight in securing the deal before allowing Smothers to leave campus. Former Alabama linebacker Christian Miller called it a “HUGE mistake” on social media, emphasizing that the staff let him depart with only a verbal commitment in place. Texas, under head coach Steve Sarkisian (a former Alabama assistant), quickly capitalized by hosting Smothers for a weekend visit to Austin. The Longhorns swooped in with what reports describe as a massive NIL package, outbidding the Crimson Tide and turning a seemingly locked-in addition into a high-profile loss for Kalen DeBoer’s program.
Smothers’ reversal highlights Alabama’s ongoing struggles in the NIL era, where the Tide’s collective and booster support has lagged behind powerhouses like Texas. On3 CEO Shannon Terry labeled it an “NIL-driven move,” noting Texas’ superior resources and “FU money” from deep-pocketed donors, allowing them to load up aggressively. The Longhorns, already bolstering their backfield with Arizona State transfer Raleek Brown, now pair him with Smothers to form a potent duo behind quarterback Arch Manning, aiming for a 2026 College Football Playoff push.
For Alabama, the departure is a stinging blow to a running back room that desperately needed veteran production after a dismal 2025 ground game (averaging just 3.5 yards per carry in key stretches). With Jam Miller and others departing due to eligibility or portal entries, the Tide now relies on young talents like sophomore Daniel Hill, redshirt freshman Kevin Riley, AK Dear, and incoming five-star freshman Ezavier Crowell. The program has been aggressive elsewhere in the portal but has lost more top talent than added this cycle.
The incident underscores broader shifts in college football recruiting and transfers: verbal commitments mean little without binding NIL contracts, and programs with superior financial firepower can poach at will. Smothers becomes the first notable flip from Alabama in the 2026 portal window, fueling discussions about the Crimson Tide’s diminishing mystique under the new regime. Texas’ portal class has surged to No. 1 in some rankings, while Alabama’s drops amid the setbacks.
As the portal window remains open, Alabama continues hunting replacements, with contacts reported to prospects like Michigan State’s Makhi Frazier. The saga of Hollywood Smothers serves as a cautionary tale—enrollment and classes don’t guarantee loyalty when bigger checks are on the table. Roll Tide fans are frustrated, but the program must adapt quickly in this NIL-dominated era.
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