Year 1 of Kalen DeBoer The era is in the books until the ReliaQuest bowl comes out. Although it was a disappointing year by any measure, there was one very noticeable bright spot. True freshman WR Ryan Williams burst onto the crime scene from the jump. The 17-year-old is the youngest descendant in the traditional line of wide receivers that has passed through Tuscaloosa. Alabama is actively trying to complement Williams by strengthening its receiving organization.

There has been something of a revolving door at Bama since the transfer portal opened last week. A number of players have departed and just as many have been courted to fill out the squad. Depth is particularly important at the receiver position. Guys like Kendrick Law, Caleb Odom and Kobe Prentice have all moved on through the portal. With the strength of Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard as the primary pairing, Alabama needs supporting players willing to potentially be lower in the pecking order. Not to mention their sensational signing day flip, Derek Meadows. This inadvertently affects their ability to recruit. However, On3’s Andrew Bone reports some developments in this regard.

With his appearance on the On3 Recruits YouTube channel, Bone sheds light on where the portal activity stands in relation to Alabama. He talked about how the program is meticulous and taking things slowly because there is no immediate need. So far 2 players have been weighed. “KC conception…Played at NC State the last two seasons. Hailing from Charlotte. He was in Tuscaloosa last weekend for an official (visit). Andrew Bone said.

“A guy will be coming to visit from Monday. Mario Craverwho is originally from Clay-Chalkville High School in Alabama. One of the most explosive players in the state during his senior season. Played at Mississippi State. Now he’s coming back to Alabama as an official, so we’ll see.” he continued. Craver, a 4-star prospect in the 2024 class, played eight games for the Bulldogs in his first year. He rushed for 368 yards and three touchdowns on 17 receptions.

The slow pace of the process may not be intentional. There is a general uncertainty that makes Alabama’s pursuit of offensive figures much more difficult. QB Jalen Milroe’s lineup in Tuscaloosa remains uncertain. He has confirmed that he will attend their bowl game. Then he will make a final decision about whether to declare for the NFL Draft or return to school. This uncertainty under center obviously impacts the onboarding of a pass catcher. Kalen DeBoer hopes for clarity and a positive outcome soon.

One of those two targets is the most coveted WR in the transfer portal

If Alabama had been able to land either goal, they would have done well. However, it is likely to be a huge coup. KC Concepcion is ranked No. 2 in the 247Sports rankings of players entering the portal this offseason. The 2023 ACC Rookie of the Year leaves behind an NC State program in transition. The sophomore’s production numbers were well below those of his first season. This was largely due to NC State’s own struggles at quarterback. However, your path to him is not linear.

There are up to 5 programs on Concepcion’s radar. Penn State, Auburn, Alabama, Colorado and Kansas State are all reportedly in the mix. Kansas State also acquired the services of KC’s younger brother Arrion, a 3-star WR in the 2025 class. Andrew Bone doesn’t seem particularly optimistic either.

“It doesn’t look like (KC Concepcion) will end up being part of Alabama’s class. At least not yet. He will pay a visit to Colorado. We’ll continue to wait and see what Alabama decides to do there.” he claimed. The Jalen Milroe effect mentioned above could tangibly play a role. Whoever Alabama can lure, they can rest on their laurels to a certain extent. Ryan Williams is just getting started.