Michigan Football CFP News: Alabama 5-Star Leaves Portal

With the Rose Bowl just a couple of weeks away, the NCAA transfer portal is starting to get insane, though the University of Michigan football program has only lost one player thus far: CJ Stokes, a sophomore running back, who will remain with the team through its playoff run this season. Today, Alabama football five-star offensive tackle Elijah Pritchett, who appeared in all 13 games for the Crimson Tide in a number of roles, entered the portal, though he has since withdrawn his name and will remain with Bama.

Alabama football retains five-star from transfer portal ahead of matchup against Michigan football

Today, Alabama five-star offensive tackle Elijah Pritchett entered the NCAA transfer portal just weeks before the Crimson Tide were slated to face Michigan football in the Rose Bowl game on New Year’s Day. While Pritchett was not a starter for Nick Saban’s squad, he is quite talented and appears to be in line for a starting role next season. Nonetheless, he appeared in all 13 games as a redshirt freshman for Alabama this fall on special teams and in a depth role, so it was a notable loss for Saban’s Tide.

That said, hours after he hit the transfer protal, Alabama retained the former five-star, who ranked as the No. 31 player nationally and No. 4 offensive tackle in the 2022 recruiting class.

Nothing damaging for Michigan, though the Tide retain a key depth piece and more

While it will likely not have a massive impact on how Michigan football prepares for the Rose Bowl game, Alabama football is getting an incredibly talented depth piece back who also sees notable reps on special teams — it’s one less thing that Tide will have to worry about, and it could be noted if there is an offensive tackle injury that causes Pritchett to see game action.

On top of that, Elijah Pritchett can no longer be considered a potential transfer portal target for Jim Harbaugh and his Wolverines as Michigan looks to reload through the portal this offseason.