Alabama Football Lands ACC Linebacker From Transfer Portal

Former Virginia Tech linebacker Caleb Woodson has committed to the Alabama Crimson Tide football program from the transfer portal according to On3 Sports' Hayes Fawcett. Woodson began his career as a defensive back, but has spent the last two seasons at linebacker and will have one year of eligibility remaining.

Woodson appeared in nine games for the Hookies in 2025 and was second on the team with 58 tackles, with 2.5 for a loss and one pass defended. He's totaled 152 tackles with 11.5 for a loss, two sacks, three pass breakups, and one interception in 35 games over the last three seasons at Virginia Tech.

BREAKING: Virginia Tech standout transfer LB Caleb Woodson has Committed to Alabama, he tells @On3sports

Through 3 seasons he’s totaled 151 tackles, 3 PD, 2 Sacks, and 1 INT

He’ll have 1 year of eligibility lefthttps://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7q pic.twitter.com/FUKcd7UHyA
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 6, 2026

Alabama Football Transfer Portal Tracker: Players Coming and Going This Winter

Woodson is listed at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds this past season and was a former 3-star recruit in the Class of 2023 out of Battlefield High School in Haymarket, Va. He was the No. 24 player in the state of Virginia in his class.

He only appeared in nine games in 2025, battling a midseason injury, but returned to the team after the program fired Brent Pry in September after an 0-3 start, to finish the season with his teammates. Virginia Tech was 3-9 this season, but Woodson was 1-8, with his only win coming in overtime over California, 42-34. Woodson had one of his better games against a team that beat Alabama in 2025; he tallied eight tackles with three solo and five assisted, against Florida State.

Alabama Starting Defensive Lineman Entering Transfer Portal

Alabama lost inside linebackers Deontae Lawson, Justin Jefferson, and Nikhai Hill-Green to graduation at the conclusion of the year, leaving an inside linebacker room full of young potential playmakers. The Crimson Tide had junior Cayden Jones, redshirt sophomore Q.B. Reese, sophomores Luke Metz, Abduall Sanders Jr., and Duke Johnson in that role prior to Woodson's addition.

Alabama Defensive Lineman Enters Transfer Portal

Woodson becomes the Crimson Tide's second transfer portal addition, but first on the defensive side of the ball. He joins running back Daylan "Hollywood" Smothers from N.C. State, making both the portal additions from the ACC. Smothers rushed 16 times for 67 yards in a losing effort to Virginia Tech this season, but Woodson didn't play due to injury.

Former NC State Running Back Hollywood Smothers Commits to Alabama

Smothers will be entering his redshirt junior season in 2026.

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.