The conclusion of the winter transfer window confirmed significant shifts in roster composition across college football. For the Alabama Crimson Tide, the final roster tally included the departure of three former defensive players to the Ohio State Buckeyes.
The Personnel Changes
It was verified in February 2026 that defensive linemen Qua Russaw and James Smith, as well as cornerback Cam Calhoun, have joined Ohio State's defense for the upcoming season.
Russaw and Smith, both highly rated recruits from Montgomery, Alabama's Carver High School, originally signed with the Crimson Tide out of high school. Their departure requires Alabama's defensive coaching staff to adjust their projected depth chart along the defensive front.
Broader Portal Context
These specific transfers constitute a continuation of movement between the two programs via the portal over the past few seasons. While Alabama lost these defensive pieces, the program simultaneously added 19 scholarship transfers to shore up their own roster needs for 2026, including offensive lineman Ethan Fields from Ole Miss.
Program Perspective: Tracking former players is a reality of modern collegiate athletics. The transfer of three defensive players to another perennial College Football Playoff contender illustrates the continuous fluidity of roster construction that Kalen DeBoer and his staff must navigate annually.