Incoming Crimson Tide quarterback Julian Sayin, a top-ranked 2024 recruit, intends to detour to the transfer portal and leave Alabama before spring practices begin, ESPN reported Friday.
Sayin enrolled at Alabama on Jan. 10, heading to Tuscaloosa with the expectation he would play under head coach Nick Saban, per the report. With the recent retirement of the legendary coach, Sayin will look at other options.
The five-star recruit from Carlsbad, Calif., committed to Alabama on Nov. 22, 2022, and had 25 total offers, including from Ohio State, LSU and Texas.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Sayin is the top offensive player in ESPN’s Class of 2024 rankings. 247Sports lists him as the No. 3 quarterback and the No. 21 overall player.
Sayin finished his three-year career at Carlsbad High School with 7,824 yards, 85 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He was the MVP of the Elite 11 finals before his senior season.
New Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer lost at least nine players to the transfer portal since he arrived from Washington, including standout wide receiver Isaiah Bond and Caleb Downs, an All-American safety as a freshman.
Quarterback Jalen Milroe, the 2023 starter under Saban, is returning to Alabama this fall and said he’s excited to play in DeBoer’s offense. Quarterback Austin Mack, who redshirted at Washington last season, transferred to Alabama on Thursday to play for his former coach.
