Alabama quarterback announces intention to enter transfer portal
Three days after losing in the College Football Playoff national championship, Alabama’s quarterback room is taking a big hit.
Quarterback Stone Hollenbach announced Wednesday he plans to enter the transfer portal. A walk-on, he never played a snap with the Crimson Tide.
“I would like to thank Coach Saban for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the Crimson Tide for the past 3 years, not only has it made me a better player but also a better man,” Hollenbach wrote in a message via his Twitter. “I would also like to thank Coach O’Brien, Coach Mortenson, and the training & equipment staff.
“With that being said I will be entering the transfer portal with 3 years of eligibility remaining. Incredibly thankful to be on this journey and excited for the next chapter.”
Since he didn’t play and redshirted his first year in 2019, Hollenbach will have three years of eligibility remaining. Out of high school, he held scholarship offers from Bucknell, Robert Morris and New Hampshire before heading to Alabama as a walk-on.
He spent time behind some big-name quarterbacks at Alabama: Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones and Bryce Young. The Crimson Tide finished the year as the No. 2 team in the final AP Top 25 after falling to Georgia 33-18 in the national championship this week.
The Crimson Tide saw some more players enter the transfer portal on Tuesday after the dust settled from the game.
Alabama tight end enters transfer portal after national championship
Alabama tight end Jahleel Billingsley has entered the transfer portal, according to On3’s Matt Zenitz. The former four-star recruit saw a decreased role after the emergence of converted defensive lineman Cameron Latu this season.
The 6-foot-4 junior from Chicago, Illinois finished 2021 with 17 catches for 256 yards and three touchdowns but did not catch more than two passes in any of the final 10 games.
In a tweet that was quickly deleted early this season, Jahleel Billingsley vented his frustrations with the Alabama depth chart but did not enter the transfer portal at the time. Nick Saban released the Week 1 depth chart and Billingsley was listed third behind Cameron Latu and Major Tennison.
In the tweet, Billingsley said this: “Come on now I’m the 3rd option.”
The tight end missed the beginning parts of camp in COVID-19 protocol as the coaching staff had to go through some steps with him. And on Aug. 11 was when Saban said Billingsley had to work his way back up the depth chart.