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Crimson Tide Loses Veteran DB to Transfer Portal

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nicholas Simon | Last updated Dec 14, 2024 7:41 PM ET

This has been a busy week of transfer portal activity for the Alabama Crimson Tide and another player has decided to depart from Tuscaloosa.

Redshirt junior defensive back DeVonta Smith has entered the transfer portal, per Matt Zenitz of 247 Sports. The "other" DeVonta Smith becomes the 13th Crimson Tide player to throw his name into the portal during this cycle and the second DB to do so after cornerback Jahlil Hurley. He will have one year of eligibility remaining for wherever he lands.

Smith arrived at Alabama as a four-star prospect in 2021, choosing the Crimson Tide over offers from Georgia, Michigan, and Ohio State, the latter of whom he was originally committed to the year prior. The Cincinnati native barely saw the field through his first three seasons with the program, recording just six combined tackles during that period of time.

However, he finally got his chance at major playing time this season by logging 11 starts at the "Husky" position on defense. The veteran ended up making a sizable difference for the Tide defense even as he battled through injuries, tallying 30 tackles, five passes defensed, and a forced fumble.

As a veteran safety with a year's worth of starts under his belt, Smith should command interest from a number of programs needing to add depth to their respective secondaries. Meanwhile for the Crimson Tide, his departure should open the door for DaShawn Jones to get more playing time in 2025. Transferring from Wake Forest this season, Jones proved to be a solid rotational piece with 20 combined tackles, a forced fumble, and half a sack on the year.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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