ESPN: The two new players for the Crimson Tide football squad were crucial depth pieces that faced off in the national championship.
The Alabama Crimson Tide has seen many of its players enter the transfer portal due to legendary head coach Nick Saban’s retirement, but there have been several additions and returning player announcements since that shocking Jan. 10 day.
On Monday night, Alabama’s defensive back room got a little bit bigger as former Michigan safety Keon Sabb, who has three more years of eligibility, transferred to Tuscaloosa, Ala., per Yea Alabama’s director of content Aaron Suttles.
“According to sources, former Michigan safety Keon Sabb has enrolled and is set to join the Alabama football program,” he wrote. “He played in 14 games with five starts in 2023 and tallied 28 tackles and two interceptions.”
Sabb was one of the biggest names in the transfer portal, in due part to his impact on Michigan’s National Championship-winning season in 2023-24, which included a victory over Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Rose Bowl.
In the national championship against the Washington Huskies, Sabb recorded six tackles and two pass breakups. But now his new head coach at Alabama is Kalen DeBoer, the same play-caller on the other side of the 34-13 triumph.
Alabama had six defensive backs depart after Saban’s retirement, including starting safety Caleb Downs, who later transferred to Ohio State. Additionally, cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. The only transfer addition to the position group had been is USC cornerback Domani Jackson.
Shortly after Sabb’s commitment to the Crimson Tide became public, former Washington tight end Josh Cuevas followed in his path to reunite with DeBoer and his teammates and former staff members with the Huskies. He caught four passes for 164 yards and one touchdown last season, while playing in all 15 games.
Alabama’s tight end room lost Amari Niblack and Miles Kitselman to the transfer portal. Niblack, who is now committed to Texas, logged 20 receptions for 327 yards (both third-most on the team) and four touchdowns for the Tide this past season.
Overall, Sabb and Cuevas were the Crimson Tide’s seventh and eighth incoming transfers, as they joined Jackson, Texas A&M defensive lineman LT Overton and offensive lineman Naquil Betrand and Washington quarterback Austin Mack, wide receiver Germie Bernard and interior offensive lineman Parker Brailsford.
