5 Alabama freshmen who can take advantage of portal impact on Tide’s roster

Cederian Morgan

Cederian Morgan is a 6-foot-4, 210-pound wide receiver. The former elite wide receiver prospect has some of the surest hands the staff at Touchdown Alabama has ever evaluated. He catches pretty much everything thrown his way with his wide catch radius. There have been times when the staff at TDA has watched Morgan practice with Benjamin Russell High School and with the Alabama All-Stars, when the ball never touched the ground when thrown to him. He knows he has to continue to work on his ability to create separation, but he appears to be up for the challenge.

Alabama only has six scholarship wide receivers on its roster. If Morgan proves he is ready to play year one, he will get his shot. It is as simple as that.

The Tide will likely add more wideouts to this room.

Xavier Griffin

Griffin is a hybrid linebacker the Crimson Tide could line up at inside linebacker or wolf linebacker. The Crimson Tide recruited him primarily to line up at the wolf linebacker position and play under Christian Robinson, but his skill set will likely give him the opportunity to see snaps at both positions. Honestly, there may be a path to the field at either position for Griffin, but there is a bigger opportunity at the wolf linebacker position.

The Tide is likely to return  Yhonzae Pierre, who emerged as a pass rusher and run stopper in 2025. Justin Hill will also be back in Tuscaloosa after playing a good amount of snaps. The Tide did lose Qua Russaw and Noah Carter to the transfer portal, creating the opportunity for Griffin. When Alabama announced the signing of Griffin, they had him listed at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds. Pierre is 6-foot-3 and 248 pounds.

The strides Griffin makes in the weight room and cafeteria may determine how impactful he is in year one.

Jamarion Matthews

Matthews doe not get talked about enough. There is plenty to like about the quick-twitch versatile Alabama native. He does not possess the length a lot of power five programs typically go after at 6-foot-2. He terrorized Alabama high school quarterbacks as a junior with 17 sacks before taking his talents to Gainesville High School in Georgia for his senior season. Matthew’s explosiveness and ability to play with great leverage were among his top qualities as a prospect.

The Crimson Tide lost its entire primary starting defensive front with the departures of Tim Keenan and LT Overton to the NFL, along with James Smith’s departure to Ohio State via the transfer portal. Alabama will return some players with starting experience and has added a pair of defensive linemen from the portal. Fortunately for Matthews, Kane Wommack rotates early and often along his defensive front.

Corey Howard

Corey Howard surely checks the size box. He was hard to miss when he participated in Rose Bowl prep with the Crimson Tide, despite him only being a few days remove from high school. Alabama announced Howard at 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds, and he looks every bit of it. Howard’s strength and power at the point of attack stood out in his high school film.

Similar to Matthews, Howard will have the same shot, along with other young defensive linemen like Kamhariyan Johnson and Nolan Wilson.