DeBoer Denies Rumors of an Alabama Receiver Transfer

Before the 2025 NFL draft, anonymous scouts said they had heard from Alabama players that “all” of the Tide’s skill position players would have transferred if Jalen Milroe had returned to Tuscaloosa for his final season of eligibility with the Crimson Tide.
Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer wasn’t as keen on the idea. DeBoer was in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Thursday night. On Monday, DeBoer did an interview with Sports Radio 93.3 KJR in Seattle, Washington, where Milroe will now call home after being drafted in the third round by the Seattle Seahawks.

“I think I’ve heard that same quote, and I think the word ‘all’ was used, so whenever absolutes are used like that, I kind of question it right there,” DeBoer said. “The words ‘never’ and ‘always’ and ‘all’ – I think that’s a little far-fetched.

“I don’t think we would have lost all of our receivers for anything.”

Alabama lost six scholarship wide receivers in the transfer portal, despite Milroe’s declaration for the NFL draft. Kendrick Law, Kobe Prentice, Caleb Odom, Emmanuel Henderson Jr., Jaren Hamilton, and Amari Jefferson all departed the Crimson Tide.

However, Alabama did return its top two pass catchers from last season in Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard, returned Jalen Hale and Cole Adams from injury, and added Isaiah Horton (transfer portal), Derek Meadows and Lotzier Brooks (true freshmen), and Jaylen Mbakwe (position change) to the receiver room this offseason.

“I will also say that there were guys who left – we had six receivers transfer out, just on this last year’s team already,” DeBoer said. “There’s reasons for that. Who you’re hearing that from and what’s happening, I don’t know. That’s really not a concern of mine.”

Milroe was selected No. 92 overall in the 2025 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks. In his second season as the Tide’s signal caller, Milroe threw for 2,844 yards, 16 touchdowns, and rushed for 726 yards and 20 touchdowns. Milroe was a two-time captain of the Crimson Tide, as voted on by the players.

“I know that Jalen is a guy really works hard to unite people, so from a personality standpoint I don’t really question that,” DeBoer continued. “He can throw the ball. We talk about the deep ball, and I think a lot of it is just being comfortable and that timing. I think there’s a piece where we could have continued to improve the consistency of the pocket and continued to develop a little bit of movement and things. That’s year one to year two progression, just like we did there with Michael (Penix Jr.). We progressed from year one to year two.”

“I think when you talk in absolutes like that, it’s a little far-fetched to say. It’s not really a concern of mine right now,” DeBoer said.