Third-year quarterback Paul Tyson was among five Alabama players to enter the transfer portal Tuesday.
Tight end Jahleel Billingsley, outside linebacker Drew Sanders, outside linebacker King Mwikuta and offensive lineman Tommy Brown also entered the portal, according to multiple reports.
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Tyson announced his decision in a Twitter post.
“I am about to graduate, and I have entered the transfer portal to continue playing football and to continue my education,” he wrote. “With the COVID waiver [for the 2020 season], I will still have three years of eligibility, and I am excited to see what door God opens for me.”
Tyson, the great-grandson of Bear Bryant, served as Alabama’s backup quarterback this season behind Bryce Young, who will return for his junior season in 2022. The Tide has also added five-star freshman quarterback Ty Simpson to its depth chart, joining rising sophomore Jalen Milroe.
In three seasons at Alabama after starring at Hewitt-Trussville High School, Tyson saw limited playing time. He saw late-game action in a 2019 win over Western Carolina, did not appear in a game in 2020 and saw his most extensive late-game action in 2021. He completed 10 of 16 passes for 150 yards while also serving as Alabama’s holder on field goals until he bobbled a snap in November’s Iron Bowl.
Billingsley, a junior, finished the season with 17 catches for 256 yards and three touchdowns after being a preseason second-team all-SEC selection. Billingsley was the subject of sharp words from Nick Saban during fall camp but took some steps forward to see playing time as a receiving option at tight end opposite Cameron Latu.
As a fourth-year junior in 2021, Latu could decide to enter the NFL draft this offseason. His departure would add to the turnover at tight end, where Alabama signed two freshmen this cycle in Amari Niblack and Elijah Brown, but lost their top-rated tight end commitment, Jaleel Skinner, to Miami during the early signing period.
Sanders, a sophomore who was a five-star recruit in 2020, moved into a starting role after Christopher Allen was injured in the opener. But Sanders himself injured his hand in early October, opening the door for five-star freshman edge rusher Dallas Turner to emerge and eventually keep the starting job.
Alabama remains deep at outside linebacker, with Will Anderson and Turner the expected starting duo in 2022 with Chris Braswell, Quandarrius Robinson, Keanu Koht and incoming five-star freshman Jeremiah Alexander the other options.
Brown was a reserve offensive lineman, while Mwikuta was a reserve linebacker who entered the portal last offseason but remained with Alabama.
Alabama lost four players in recent weeks to the transfer portal in cornerback Marcus Banks (Mississippi State), offensive lineman Pierce Quick (Georgia Tech), linebacker Jackson Bratton (UAB) and wide receiver Xavier Williams (Utah State). It has added two transfers in former LSU cornerback Eli Ricks and former Georgia Tech running back Jahmyr Gibbs.
Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.