Over 3,000 college football players have entered the transfer portal during the winter window, including 14 at Alabama as the Crimson Tide prep for the ReliaQuest Bowl against Michigan. Alabama offensive guard Tyler Booker questioned the intentions of many transfer portal departures as he prepares to suit up against the Wolverines despite all signs pointing towards him leaving for the NFL Draft this offseason. Booker is the top-rated offensive guard on PFF’s 2024 NFL Draft Big Board.
«Make sure that you’re making the decisions for the right reasons,» Booker said when asked about advice he’d give to potential portal departures. «Don’t say, ‘Oh, my coach doesn’t like me, I’m not going to play here.’ Maybe you’re not playing for a reason. Maybe you just need to get better. You need to really self-reflect before you make a life-altering decision so quickly.»
Running back Justice Haynes, safety DeVonta Smith, defensive lineman Damon Payne and receivers Kendrick Law and Kobe Prentice are among the most notable departures for Alabama this offseason. Former five-star cornerback Jaylen Mbakwe announced earlier this week that he would be entering the portal, only to backtrack and decide to return. Shortly after, Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne made a public announcement to the fanbase, asking donors to «fight back» and fund the team’s NIL efforts. Booker said money shouldn’t incentivize players to enter the portal.
«Every situation is unique,» Booker said. «You have to make sure you’re making that decision for the right reasons and not just basing it off of financial benefit. You have to see if the coach that you’re going to play for is going to develop you as a player and as a man. You have to see if your credits transfer over. A lot of people don’t think about that. I just graduated this past weekend. Nobody is ever going to take my degree away from me. So, make sure your credits transfer over.»
Booker rated as the No. 60 overall prospect and No. 8 offensive tackle in the class of 2022 and started the first 11 games of his career on the bench. He made his first career start in the 2022 Sugar Bowl, the final career games for Alabama legends Bryce Young and Will Anderson Jr., who made surprise decisions not to opt out for the postseason after the Crimson Tide missed the CFP. Two years later, Booker is making the same call.
«It was a no-brainer for me to play,» Booker said. «With everything I’ve poured into this team and everything that this team has poured into me, it would be very hypocritical of me not to play. It’s just a love that I have for this place and a love that I have for the game of football. Playing this game was a no-brainer for me.»