Alabama might have found its next blindside blocker. The Crimson Tide continued to rebuild its offensive line through the transfer portal on Wednesday, receiving a commitment from former Mississippi State tackle Jayvin Q. James. The rising redshirt junior has two years of eligibility remaining.
James started 12 games for Mississippi State last season, including 10 at left tackle and two at right tackle. According to Pro Football Focus, the 6-foot-5, 320-pound lineman earned a 62.0 pass-blocking grade, allowing 25 pressures, including three sacks, over 467 pass-blocking snaps. James earned a 57.8 grade over 388 run-blocking snaps.
Before transferring to Mississippi State last season, James started nine games over 15 appearances at Akron from 2023-2024. The Dearfield Beach, Florida native signed with Akron as a three-star recruit in the 2023 class.
Alabama is losing its starting left tackle from last year, as Kadyn Proctor elected to forgo his senior season and enter the NFL Draft. Meanwhile, Wilkin Formby transferred to Texas A&M after starting eight games at right tackle last year before transitioning to right guard midway through the season. The Tide returns sophomore Michael Carroll, who took Formby’s role over six starts at right tackle last year.
James is the sixth offensive lineman Alabama has added through the transfer portal. The Tide previously brought in a pair of former Michigan linemen in tackle Ty Haywood and center Kaden Strayhorn before adding former Texas guard Nick Brooks, former Cal Poly center Racin Delgatty and former Ole Miss guard Ethan Fields last week.
Alabama is also bringing in five freshmen offensive linemen in this year’s class. Those additions include four-star talents Bryson Cooley (6-foot-6, 315 pounds), Chris Booker (6-foot-4, 285 pounds) and Jared Doughty (6-foot-6, 300 pounds) as well as three-star talents Bear Fretwell (6-foot-7, 290 pounds) and Tyrell Miller (6-foot-5, 305 pounds).
The transfer portal window closed on Jan. 16. While Alabama can continue to add to its roster, only players already in the portal are eligible to sign with new teams.
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