Alabama CB Khyree Jackson enters NCAA transfer portal
Alabama cornerback Khyree Jackson has officially entered the transfer portal. This news comes down on Wednesday ahead of Alabama’s final regular season game in the Iron Bowl. On3 national college football reporter Matt Zenitz was the first to report the news.
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Soon after, Jackson confirmed himself.
Jackson’s departure isn’t that surprising after Alabama coach Nick Saban revealed earlier this week that the junior defensive back who had come from the JUCO ranks prior to the 2021 season had been suspended for the past two games.
“He’s suspended right now,” Saban told to reporters when asked about Jackson’s absence on Monday.
As of right now, we’re still not sure what the suspension relates to, but obviously, it must’ve been something worth a multi-game absence. From Saban’s tone on Monday and using the phrase “right now,” I’m not sure if the 6-foot-3, 198-pound cornerback would be back for this Saturday’s game either.
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Jackson only played in three games on defense for Alabama this season.
He played 35 snaps against Utah State in the season opener before starting against Texas. Unfortunately, he struggled early, allowing a combined 68 yards on the two times he was targeted. That performance led to him being replaced by Terrion Arnold. Jackson did, however, manage to see the field for nine snaps against Louisiana-Monroe in Week 3.
We haven’t seen him on defense since then.
Jackson’s first start in an Alabama uniform came in last year’s national title game against Georgia. He was lined up opposite Kool-Aid McKinstry due to injuries to Josh Jobe and Jalyn Armour-Davis. Similar to his start in 2022, Jackson struggled covering receivers vertically. In that game, he was beat by freshman receiver Adonai Mitchell on a 40-yard touchdown that extended’s Georgia lead from one to eight points.
There’s a lot of physical ability with Jackson, but he hasn’t been able to put it together at Alabama. It looks like he’ll attempt to do that elsewhere.
We’re still waiting to see if fellow cornerback Eli Ricks elects to enter the NFL draft. If that happens, McKinstry and Arnold will likely be the projected starters for 2023. But there’s still the possility that Ricks could return for his senior season. Time will tell.
Stay tuned for more transfer portal updates on Jackson and any other Crimson Tide players.
