Happy Thursday, everyone. The offseason doldrums have commenced, but we did get a basketball transfer portal nugget when Mississippi State forward Jamarion Davis-Fleming committed to Alabama.
Davis-Fleming played in 32 games this past season, starting six of them and averaging 20.2 minutes per game.
Davis-Fleming joins Brandon Garrison as Alabama’s two transfer portal additions so far. Garrison is another 6-foot-10 big who transferred from Kentucky.
The Crimson Tide is in the process of revamping its
front court. Starting center Aiden Sherrell transferred to Indiana, and his primary backup Noah Williamson exhausted his eligibility. Meanwhile, another big, Taylor Bol Bowen, entered the transfer portal again after an underwhelming season.
Garrison and Davis-Fleming both offer some needed brawn, but neither shoots the ball well. Davis-Fleming shot an abominable 34% from the free throw line and didn’t even attempt a three in his freshman season, while Garrison shot 23% from three and 59% from the line.
Matt Stahl was impressed with the defensive front at A-Day.
On one hand, Alabama has offensive line concerns, potentially even more so than last season when an enormous rotation led to a lack of chemistry. However, on the other side of the ball, the performance was encouraging.
Some returning veterans looked solid on A-Day, including Yhonzae Pierre and Steve Bolo Mboumoua, who turned heads after spending last year on the bench for the Crimson Tide. Kedrick Bingley-Jones, a Mississippi State transfer also made some nice plays.
With new inside linebacker faces as well, Alabama’s front seven seemed both solid and deep on A-Day. If that carries over into the 2026 season, Kane Wommack’s unit could help carry an offense that had troubles.
We are a week away from the NFL Draft, and Kadyn Proctor seems to be the only first round lock for Alabama.
Kiper has Proctor at No. 12 to the Cleveland Browns after a projected trade with the Dallas Cowboys.
Proctor has been “buzzy,” Kiper said. And while the Alabama offensive tackle has “tape (that) is a little inconsistent, the traits are all there.”
“Proctor could lock down the left tackle spot for an offensive line undergoing big alterations,” Kiper writes.
His freakish combination of size athleticism won’t let him fall too far, even if he’s a project.
Dan Orlovsky has been a huge Ty Simpson fan, and Kiper encourages him to stick with his conviction.
“First of all, Dano doesn’t have to worry about anybody else and what they think,” Kiper said. “He doesn’t have to worry about what teams are gonna back him up. Just have an opinion, state it Dano has an opinion — he’s a former quarterback. He evaluates these guys tremendously well.”
Then, Kiper compared Orlovsky’s support of Simpson, to a recent quarterback Kiper strongly supported, Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns.
“I had that same feeling about Shedeur Sanders,” Kiper said. I still believe strongly in Shedeur and what he can do in Cleveland. So, hold on to it. Don’t let anybody talk you out of it.”
Last, the Athletic sees a whole bunch of Gump in the first round.
Kadyn Proctor: No. 23 Philadelphia Eagles
Ty Simpson: Round 2, No. 34 Arizona Cardinals
Germie Bernard: Round 2, No. 58 San Francisco 49ers
LT Overton: Round 4, No. 103 Arizona Cardinals
Justin Jefferson: Round 5, No. 150 New Orleans Saints
Tim Keenan III: Round 5, No. 153 Green Bay Packers (From Philadelphia Eagles)
Parker Brailsford: Round 6, No. 183 Arizona Cardinals
Domani Jackson: Round 6, No. 197 Philadelphia Eagles (From Atlanta Falcons)
Deontae Lawson: Round 7, No. 225 Tennessee Titans (From Dallas Cowboys)
Josh Cuevas: Round 7, No. 244 Minnesota Vikings (From Houston Texans)
That’s about it for now. Have a great day.
Roll Tide.
