Alabama Football Adds Big 10 Offensive Lineman from Transfer Portal

The Crimson Tide makes its third transfer portal addition of the offseason cycle.

Team Blue offensive lineman Kaden Strayhorn (75) gets ready for a snap against Team Maize during the second half of the spring game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 19, 2025. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Former Michigan offensive lineman Kaden Strayhorn is transferring to the Alabama Crimson Tide Football program according to On3 Sports' Hayes Fawcett.

Strayhorn was a 3-star prospect in the Class of 2025 out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. He was teammates with current Crimson Tide offensive lineman Michael Carroll. He went to Michigan for his freshman season and appeared in two games as a true freshman, preserving his redshirt. He played right tackle at IMG, but was considered the No. 35 interior offensive lineman in the class.

The 6-foot-2, 308-pound offensive lineman projects as a center, but could play any spot on the interior. He was named to the 2023 MaxPreps Junior All-American Second Team and to the 2022 Preseason MaxPreps Sophomore All-American First Team as a high schooler and comes to the Crimson Tide with four years of eligibility remaining.

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BREAKING: Michigan true freshman transfer OL Kaden Strayhorn has Committed to Alabama, he tells @On3Sports

The 6’3 318 OL will have 4 years of eligibility left

“Right back where It started, only better Philippians 4:13”https://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7q pic.twitter.com/N6OSGXJhoj

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 7, 2026

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Strayhorn becomes the Crimson Tide's third transfer portal addition and second on the offensive side of the ball, joining running back Daylan "Hollywood" Smothers from N.C. State.

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Strayhorn's father, Jason, played for Nick Saban at Michigan State, serving as a team captain and earning All-Big 10 honors at center in 1998. He went on to serve as the Spartans' radio color commentator for 19 years, but was let go upon his son's commitment to Michigan. Strayhorn cited a close relationship with former Michigan coach Sharone Moore as the reason for his commitment to the Maize and Blue, but now looks to Tuscaloosa to play his college football.

Strayhorn will likely come to Tuscaloosa looking to replace departing center Parker Brailsford. Brailsford recently declared for the NFL Draft, Geno VanDeMark exhausted his eligibility and redshirt freshman Joe Ionata entered the transfer portal, leaving the center position wide open in 2026.

Barring more transfer portal additions, the Crimson Tide currently has the following offensive linemen for 2026: Strayhorn, Michael Carroll, William Sanders, Casey Poe, Mal Waldrep, Arkel Anugwom, Jackson Lloyd, plus incoming freshmen Bryson Cooley, Chris Booker, Bear Fretwell, and Tyrell Miller.

The transfer portal officially opened on Friday, Jan. 2 and closes on Jan. 16. The spring portal was eliminated in September and will no longer be an option for athletes. Players have until Jan. 16 to submit their names to the transfer portal, it is not a deadline for players to decide where they'll play next.

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