Alabama's Crimson Tide just got a major boost! Former Mississippi State defensive lineman Kedrick Bingley-Jones is the latest player to join the team via the transfer portal, adding some serious talent to the roster. This move is a big deal, and here's why…
Bingley-Jones, a 6-foot-2, 320-pound powerhouse, made his commitment after a visit to Tuscaloosa. He entered the transfer portal on January 7th and is looking to get another year of eligibility. Initially, he was a highly-regarded four-star recruit who signed with North Carolina in the 2024 recruiting class, ranked as the No. 20 defensive lineman in the nation.
But here's where it gets interesting: Bingley-Jones has a strong connection to Alabama. He shared with Bama247 that he's "been a fan of Alabama's since I was a little kid," even keeping his old Mark Ingram jersey. He was sold on the move by Coach Freddie Roach, who highlighted how well he'd fit into the team. Bingley-Jones is eager to prove himself, stating, "I know my ranking isn't the highest and I don't expect (fans) to respect me yet, but I am ready to work and earn the respect of the fan base."
During the 2025 season with the Bulldogs, the Charlotte, NC native played in 13 games, racking up 25 tackles and 0.5 tackles-for-loss. Before his time at Mississippi State, he played for the Tar Heels. In 2020, he redshirted due to injury. He then played in 11 games in 2021. In 2022, he had 5 tackles in 11 games, including the ACC Championship game against Clemson. Injuries unfortunately sidelined him for 10 games in 2023.
With key starters like Tim Keenan and LT Overton now ineligible, the defensive line was a major area of focus for the Crimson Tide in the transfer portal.
Here's a quick rundown of the defensive line situation:
- Keon Keeley, James Smith, and Kelby Collins have also entered the portal.
- Edric Hill and Jordan Renaud are draft-eligible but expected to stay.
- Jeremiah Beaman is expected to play a significant role after missing the 2025 season due to injury.
- London Simmons, Isaia Faga, Steve Bolo Mboumoua, and Fatutoa Henry are also in the mix.
Alabama also brought in a strong recruiting class along the defensive line, including Jamarion Matthews, Nolan Wilson, Kamhariyan Johnson, Corey Howard, and Malique Franklin.
Bingley-Jones isn't the only transfer portal addition. The Crimson Tide also secured Devan Thompkins, a former USC standout, who was ranked as the No. 3 defensive lineman in the portal.
About Thompkins: He has played in 27 games, starting 17. At 6-foot-5 and 290 pounds, his length and athleticism are notable. He's versatile, able to play off the edge, with his hand in the ground, or standing up. He can also play the three-technique, but struggles there.
Need to Know!
The NCAA has updated transfer rules, which is important to understand:
- The transfer portal window is now from January 2 to January 16.
- The spring transfer portal window has been eliminated.
- Graduate transfers must also use the January 2-16 window.
- Players impacted by a coaching change now have a 15-day window to enter the portal, starting 5 days after a new coach is hired, if the coaching change happens after January 2.
What do you think of these additions to Alabama's defensive line? Will Bingley-Jones and Thompkins make a big impact? Share your thoughts in the comments!
