Seems like the necessary move. Reminded me of the ends of Hitchcock’s and Tortorella’s tenures — it just wasn’t clicking with the guys for whatever reason.

Oh man this is seriously huge. Really needed a guy like this losing McDonald. Can't wait to see him in action! Bama is turning into a portal pipeline for us.

This is where he should be

Alabama finally addresses the wide receiver position after landing a commitment from a former 5-star via the transfer portal​

Alabama adds an experienced wide receiver with size in Noah Rogers from the transfer portal, which helps recover from the latest losses on offense.



The Crimson Tide finally has a key addition with Noah Rogers committing, and he provides something it didn’t have on offense.

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Alabama has Ryan Williams, Lotzeir Brooks, and Rico Scott returning, but it needed two things that none of those wide receivers offer: size and experience. That’s where Rogers will come in clutch as a much-needed boost on offense at 6-2, 205 pounds. I asked A to Z Sports Alabama writer Rob Gregson why this commitment was so important for Alabama after the rough stretch it’s had.

“Alabama has been slow to address the WR position in the portal despite the sudden and frankly, unexpected departure from Isaiah Horton. Now, the Tide may have very well found its Horton for 2026. Noah Rogers is a former 5-star from the 2023 class, who was once an Ohio State Buckeye before his two years with the NC State Wolfpack. He’s a complementary piece to the serious deep threats that are Lotzeir Brooks and Ryan Williams in the wide receiver room. Totaling over 900 receiving yards and three touchdowns in his two seasons at NC State, this move adds a veteran presence and key depth piece to its WR corps with this commitment.” – Rob Gregson, A to Z Sports Alabama

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Receiving & Rushing​

An asterisk (*) indicates bowl stats are included.

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This is a big, nasty, super athletic DT. Love, LOVE everything about this commitment. This is the type of DT we’ve been jealous of the SEC for churning out for years

Osi said:

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I had chalked them up to another team when they didn't commit to us after the visit. Guess they just needed to see the other places to see if they stacked up to us & they didn't :) Excited to have these chess pieces on Coach Patricia's board!

Welcome to the Buckeye Fam, Qua and James!!

I know people are going to look down on the lack of proven production. But I think this is the kind of guy who still has a ton of raw talent that might finally come together with a scenery change and playing under Patricia.

At minimum he will be a guy who's effective at standing ground when rotating in. Even if the sack numbers aren't there he seems to be a guy who's good at setting the edge.

ScriptOhio said:

IDK, but he sounds like a "keeper" to me; actually he kind of sounds like what CJ Hicks might of been had he stayed (i.e. hybrid edge/linebacker):

The Alabama native enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, racking up 36 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and two interceptions while playing Wolf, a hybrid edge/linebacker role in the Crimson Tide's 4-2-5 defense, similar to the "Jack" position Jim Knowles deployed early in his Ohio State tenure. He brings an interesting athletic profile to the defensive end position with the Buckeyes, a chess piece that defensive coordinator Matt Patricia could use as a stand-up edge player who can drop into coverage for some unique schemes, as the Buckeyes' defensive ends did in a more limited capacity in 2025.

Speaking of 2025, Russaw saw his role diminish in Alabama's defense this past season. He played 45 snaps in the Tide's first game, 19 snaps in their second and 41 in their third before breaking his foot in game four and missing seven weeks. After returning for Alabama's 11th game of the season, he never reached 30 snaps in a game. He finished the season with 14 tackles and one sack.

Back healthy, Russaw can be a versatile weapon for Ohio State if he taps back into his five-star potential as in 2024.

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I was thinking of Hicks immediately. He’s what the defensive staff hoped Hicks would’ve been by now, but no one knew how to use him, and he never Had a defined position until this year. Russaw was also A former 5star who could develop into a solid SDE. But like @billmac91 said, the real prize was Smith

billmac91 said:

Not to be a downer but he was a package deal with Smith. I’m not sure he gets the offer otherwise, but hopefully he can be solid depth at DE. I hope he makes me eat my words….

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IDK, but he sounds like a "keeper" to me; actually he kind of sounds like what CJ Hicks might of been had he stayed (i.e. hybrid edge/linebacker):

The Alabama native enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, racking up 36 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and two interceptions while playing Wolf, a hybrid edge/linebacker role in the Crimson Tide's 4-2-5 defense, similar to the "Jack" position Jim Knowles deployed early in his Ohio State tenure. He brings an interesting athletic profile to the defensive end position with the Buckeyes, a chess piece that defensive coordinator Matt Patricia could use as a stand-up edge player who can drop into coverage for some unique schemes, as the Buckeyes' defensive ends did in a more limited capacity in 2025.

Speaking of 2025, Russaw saw his role diminish in Alabama's defense this past season. He played 45 snaps in the Tide's first game, 19 snaps in their second and 41 in their third before breaking his foot in game four and missing seven weeks. After returning for Alabama's 11th game of the season, he never reached 30 snaps in a game. He finished the season with 14 tackles and one sack.

Back healthy, Russaw can be a versatile weapon for Ohio State if he taps back into his five-star potential as in 2024.

Not to be a downer but he was a package deal with Smith. I’m not sure he gets the offer otherwise, but hopefully he can be solid depth at DE. I hope he makes me eat my words….

pnuts34 said:

(Ojo got paid, and he’s been abused at every major camp, I guess good for him. Hopefully there’s no takebacks from Tech)

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Tangent but you're right, Ojo has looked awful two straight years at camps. I get he has good size and athleticism but that hasn't turned him anywhere close into a competent OT, let alone a 5* one.

Not mad at this pickup....in the modern world of CFB, this is a perfect mix...

* Established starter
* Veteran backup with no vision of starting
* Talented underclassmen that looks like your potential future
* True freshman who will hopefully sit, learn and you see what you have after a year.

A former hockey player, he must be a tough SOB. And the fact that he also went to Northwestern and became all conference makes it all the better.