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Alabama suffers body blow with starting DT, former 5-star entering Transfer Portal

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Alabama suffered a devastating blow to its defensive line on Tuesday.

Following his high school teammate Qua Russaw, former 5-star DT James Smith, who started 12 games for the Crimson Tide in 2025, has decided to enter the Transfer Portal:

Alabama starting defensive lineman James Smith has entered the transfer portal, @chris_hummer and I have learned.

Former five-star recruit who posted 26 tackles and 2.5 sacks this season. pic.twitter.com/ztqS08r0D1— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 6, 2026

Smith is the biggest loss for Alabama in the portal to date, even more so than Russaw.