This is a huge pull for Kalen DeBoer.
The Tide got some huge transfer portal news today, as Mississippi State starting left tackle Jayvin James committed to Alabama.
2025 would prove to be James’ only season with the Bulldogs. He started 12 games for Mississippi State, only missing the opening game of the regular season. Nine of those starts came at the left tackle position. According to PFF, James would total 856 snaps, and in that time, he allowed just three sacks and committed just six penalties.
Mississippi State would go 5-8 on the season, making a bowl despite not getting to six wins. The Bulldogs would also go 1-7 in SEC play.
Now, James is set to join the Alabama Crimson Tide. Alabama finished ranked No. 9 in the last AP Poll of the season. That was on the back of an 11-4 season that saw the Crimson Tide play for an SEC Championship and go to the College Football Playoff. There, Alabama would win a game before losing to the eventual national champion, Indiana.
Being this late in the cycle, with the commitment coming as quickly as it did after he entered the portal, this reeks of tampering. But, that’s all the rage in the sport nowadays so why not?
In his fourth year of college ball with a full year starting in the SEC under his belt, James will almost certainly slot in as the starting left tackle. Alabama’s offensive line depth chart has been almost completely rebuilt through the transfer portal, and they now have a chance to field a very good unit.
It’s a long way to September, but this is what it might look like:
LT – Jayvin James
LG – William Sanders
C – Racin Delgatty
RG – Kayden Strayhorn
RT– Michael Carroll
Those are just guesses. Ty Haywood, Nick Brooks, and Ethan Fields were all brought in through the portal as well, and Alabama returns quite a bit of blue chip but green talent, including former five-star Jackson Lloyd.
The pieces are coming together.
Roll Tide.
Category: General Sports
