The new Crimson Tide is entering choppy waters.
Alabama will lose another high-profile player following the sudden retirement of Nick Saban, with freshman quarterback Julian Sain expected to enter the transfer portal on Friday. According to ESPN.
Sane, a five-star recruit and the top-ranked QB in the '24 class, reportedly wants to play for Saban and will now consider his options.
The loss was the latest for new head coach Karen DeBoer, who was hired last week to replace the legendary Saban.
“That's a big deal.” Yahoo's Dan Wetzel wrote about Sayin's decision.
Since then, the program has lost All-American freshman safety Caleb Downs, top returning wide receiver Isaiah Bond and seven other players.
A total of 25 scholarship players completed the program this offseason.
On Thursday, former Washington coach DeBoer found some relief in the addition of a familiar face in former Huskies quarterback Austin Mack.
He will join returning starter Jalen Milroe and redshirt sophomores Ty Simpson and Dylan Lonergan in a strong QB room.
Thayne, who threw for 2,369 yards, 24 touchdowns and one interception as a high school senior, will have many schools to choose from.
He received 25 offers during the recruiting process. per 247 sportsincluding those from Florida State, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State.
Sane committed to Alabama more than a year ago and enrolled this month, but DeBoer's decision to replace offensive coordinator Tommy Reese with Ryan Grubb may have hastened his departure.
Thain's coach at Carlsbad (Calif.) High School said the QB was especially close with Reese.
“He wants to know who he's going to hire, who's going to be his OC,” Thad McNeil said. told The Athletic Before reports surfaced that Grubb would play that role. “Obviously, Alabama is going to get a really, really good player at that position.”
“(Sain) was fine. It wasn't like, 'Oh, I'm panicking.' It's a bit like the nature of business. He has already started classes, so he is taking classes. It's a question of his class and who he can keep. The coordinator had a good relationship with Coach (Tommy) Reese, so he's going to be important. ”
