The Alabama Crimson Tide, currently ranked No. 10 with an 8-2 record, are preparing to face the Oklahoma Sooners (5-5) this Saturday.
As the team aims to remain in the College Football Playoff conversation, significant news regarding one of their players has emerged.
Junior linebacker Keanu Koht has decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal, according to a report by ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
“Alabama linebacker Keanu Koht has filed paperwork to enter the NCAA transfer portal, per his agents at the A&P Sports Agency,” Thamel stated on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday. “He expects to have two seasons of eligibility remaining.”
The 19-year-old Koht, a 6-foot-4, 242-pound athlete from Vero Beach, Florida, has participated in seven games this season, recording four tackles, 0.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery. Since joining Alabama in 2021, he has amassed nine career tackles.
Last week, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer announced Koht’s suspension before the team’s dominant 52-7 win over Mercer. However, DeBoer did not specify the suspension’s duration or the reasons behind it. Koht, a former four-star recruit from Vero Beach High School, holds an NIL valuation of $265,000, per On3.
As Alabama eyes a strong finish under DeBoer in his first season as head coach, Koht’s departure adds a surprising twist to the Crimson Tide’s postseason aspirations.
