Alabama Wide Receiver Enters Transfer Portal

Jaylen Mbakwe becomes the fifth player and second wide receiver to move on from the Crimson Tide.

Alabama's Jaylen Mbakwe (3) signals after praying in the end zone before the College Football Playoff game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Friday Dec. 19, 2025. | SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Mbakwe has entered the transfer portal, per On3 Sports' Hayes Fawcett.

The Crimson Tide sophomore flirted with the transfer portal last season, but opted instead to switch from cornerback to wide receiver and remain in Tuscaloosa for the 2025 season. Mbakwe appeared in 10 games this season at receiver and on special teams. He hauled in three receptions for 55 yards and had a single carry for four yards with one special teams tackle.

BREAKING: Alabama WR Jaylen Mbakwe is entering the @TransferPortal, he tells @On3Sports

The 6’0 188 WR will have 2 years of eligibility left

Was ranked as a Five-Star Plus+ Recruit in the 2024 Class (per On3)https://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7q pic.twitter.com/PpVeG56clL

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 2, 2026

“He fits into the mix with some other guys," Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer said of Mbakwe this fall. "I think that room, there’s some guys at the top, and another pack of guys that are going to be important to us throughout the entire year. They might be in certain packages, and Bak would be certainly be one of those guys who is just going to keep fighting, keep scrapping. He’s doing the things he needs to do every day to just keep focusing on him and getting better.

"That’s what I appreciate about him. He’s finding his ways into the return way. Did a great job of that last year. Carving out a role there. He and the other guys will keep carving out their roles. And the more opportunities they get, I think they’ll take advantage of it. But you kind of got your guy kind of at the top, your main starters. And then you kind of got the next group all fighting, scratching and clawing to get playing time there.”

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

The former 5-star athlete from Clay-Chalkville spent his freshman season as a cornerback and appeared in 12 games with 15 tackles, three passes defended and an interception.

Mbakwe becomes the fifth Alabama player planning to enter the transfer portal, following wide receiver Aeryn "Bubba" Hampton, defensive back Kameron Howard and offensive lineman Roq Montgomery and running back Richard Young.

Alabama is now down to eight wide receivers for the 2026 season: Isaiah Horton, Ryan Williams, Cole Adams, Jalen Hale, Rico Scott, Lotzeir Brooks, Derek Meadows and Cederian Morgan.

Alabama Receiver Says 'No Chance' He's Going to Transfer Portal: Roll Call

Mbakwe is close with fellow wide receiver Ryan Williams and the pair have served as co-hosts on "The New Wave Podcast" over the last two seasons where they've interviewed prominent figures and fellow teammates from the Crimson Tide football program.

The transfer portal officially opens 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.

---