Alabama football has seen its fair share of roster shakeups lately, with over 20 players hitting the portal, and the latest news comes from the offensive line. Arkel Anugwom, the 6-foot-6, 328-pound tackle, who spent one season under Kalen DeBoer, is now officially heading out of Tuscaloosa.

According to his representative, Nick Wisinski, Anugwom has committed to Northwestern University.

Anugwom’s Alabama stint never really took off the way many had hoped, as he was buried deep on the depth chart. The redshirt sophomore showed up on the field only once in 2025, in a 56-0 sweep of Eastern Illinois, where he made a handful of solid knockdown blocks in four snaps.

Before Alabama, he spent two years at Ball State, including a season playing four games at left tackle. Anugwom was born in Nigeria and moved to the U.S. for high school. He has always been a player with potential, waiting for the right opportunity. But that opportunity never fully came at Alabama, so he’s looking for a fresh start at Northwestern, where he can actually step on the field and show what he is capable of.

Alabama’s biggest losses have come in the trenches, where depth has been hit hard. Anugwom entered the portal after just one season in Tuscaloosa, while Wilkin Formby’s departure stings even more after recording over 1,000 snaps across two years before transferring to Texas A&M. The exits didn’t stop there.

Olaus Alinen, center Joseph Ionata, Micah DeBose, Jaylen Mbakwe, and Roq Montgomery have all moved on, thinning an offensive line group that was already facing turnover. For Kalen DeBoer, rebuilding protection up front has quickly become one of the most urgent tasks of the offseason.

Alabama’s portal rebuild accelerates

Under Kalen DeBoer, Alabama is finally beginning to rebound in the transfer portal after weeks of watching names leave Tuscaloosa. Hollywood Smothers, a former NC State running back, is one of the biggest additions. He announced his commitment on IG during a weekend visit. Smothers gives the Tide an instant boost in the backfield and marks another step in DeBoer’s plan to replace experience with proven production.

On the defensive front, DeBoer and his staff added Virginia Tech LB Caleb Woodson, a proven veteran who amassed 152 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and multiple splash plays across three seasons in the ACC.

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They also bolstered a depleted defensive line by signing former USC lineman Devan Thompkins, who started 12 games in 2025 and brings versatility. With multiple front-seven contributors either heading to the NFL or entering the portal, these additions feel less like luxury pickups to stabilize the defense quickly.

Special teams and secondary depth have also been priorities as the Tide continues to reload. Adam Watford, a former punter for North Alabama, arrives with a strong resume. He averaged 46.6 yards per punt, established an FCS record with 17 punts over 50 yards, and was named conference co-specialist of the year. Alabama also landed Mercer DB Carmelo O’Neal in the secondary. O’Neal is a strong player who certainly fits DeBoer’s needs.

With nine portal commits already in the fold and more expected, Kalen DeBoer is rebuilding Alabama football with a soft reset heading into 2026.