Kalen DeBoer’s problems didn’t end with the Rose Bowl loss. In fact, they have only started with the thrashing the Tide saw at the hands of Indiana. Since the game, several players have entered the portal. To make matters worse, a former five-star recruit of the Crimson Tide, whom DeBoer tried his best to retain, also announced his exit from Tuscaloosa.

According to On3’s Hayes Fawcett, Alabama’s wide receiver Jaylen Mbakwe is entering the NCAA transfer portal, with two years of eligibility left. Mbakwe arrived at Tuscaloosa as a five-star prospect of the 2024 recruiting class, rated No. 12 nationally. The 6-foot, 188-pounder played as a cornerback during his freshman year and appeared in 10 games, finishing with 15 tackles, two pass deflections, an interception, and a tackle for loss.

He transitioned into a wide receiver in 2025 and played only 28 offensive snaps, finishing the season with three catches for 55 yards and four rushing yards on one attempt, but his playtime was limited. Mbakwe was supposed to enter the transfer portal after last season, but Kalen DeBoer worked hard to retain him for the 2025 roster.

“Some guys, just as they go through it, realize really what they want,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said in December 2024. “And, you know, we are just in the world right now where that’s what it is. We’re excited that he wants to be here with us. And back out there going to work today.”

Mbakwe remained committed to Alabama, despite his limited time on the field. Even in an interview after Bama’s CFP first-round win over Oklahoma, he denied the transfer portal entry rumors, saying, “Definitely not.” However, that stance changed after Alabama’s 38-3 blowout loss to Indiana at the Rose Bowl.

If Mbakwe remained with the Tide, he may have gotten a chance to move up in the depth chart by 2026, since Germie Bernard and Isaiah Horton are reportedly heading to the NFL Draft. However, he didn’t want to risk another season. With this, Mbakwe becomes the fifth Alabama player to enter the portal. He will be joining Aeryn “Bubba” Hampton, Kameron Howard, Roq Montgomery, and Richard Young in the portal.

Mbakwe’s departure is a massive loss for Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama, as he was a five-star prospect and a top overall prospect graduating from high school.

Jaylen Mbakwe’s recruiting profile

Graduating from Clay-Chalkville High School in Pinson, Alabama, Jaylen Mbakwe was the No. 3 player in the state of Alabama and the No. 12 overall player of the 2024 recruiting class, rated five stars. He played at multiple positions in high school, primarily as a quarterback.

In his senior year, he led the school to win the Alabama 6A title. Mbakwe finished the season, rushing 148 times for 1,064 yards and scoring 23 touchdowns, while passing for 2,007 yards for 20 touchdowns. He was also a decorated sprinter in high school, winning both the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes, and capturing three gold medals as a junior. He has a track record of finishing the 100 meters in 10.46 seconds and the 200 meters in 21.71 seconds.

The scouting report revealed that his gameplay has similarities with New England Patriots’ Stephon Gilmore and projected him as a first-round pick when he becomes eligible for the NFL. He was viewed as extremely athletic, calm, and flexible, with elite-level instinct.

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All these abilities as a high school kid brought him 29 offers from top schools across the country, including Georgia, Virginia Tech, Florida State, Louisville, Auburn, Oregon, Tennessee, Michigan, and Oklahoma. Yet he chose the home team, the Alabama Crimson Tide, after multiple visits and a close rapport with Freddie Roach and Travaris Robinson.