Alabama Football loses 4-star linebacker after transfer to Tennessee

There are many teething issues when taking over a football team as rich in tradition as the Alabama football program. One of them is definitely the lack of buy-in. Kalen DeBoer proved over the winter that he can turn Washington into a winner, but the same cannot be said for the Crimson Tide. That's why Josh Heupel and the Tennessee football team acted like eagles and snapped up Jaedon Harmon.

The Alabama football program lost a potential star, or at least a part of the reserve at linebacker. Jaedon Harmon decided to leave Kalen DeBoer's team. Instead, the four-star defensive star found a new home on the Tennessee football team. Josh Heupel and the rest of the coaching staff were overjoyed to welcome him.

Harmon announced his big move while also not forgetting to thank the Crimson Tide for their efforts in signing him during the offseason.

“I want to thank the entire Alabama staff for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to play for a great program! Respect my decision,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Tennessee football just signed the nation's 18th-best linebacker. Harmon is also Heupel's 23rd signing for the Volunteers' class of 2025. All of this adds up to a recruiting wave that could rank at least 5th in all of college football.

What happens to Kalen DeBoer's Alabama football team?

Well, they are missing out on some spectacular talent in their defensive backfield. However, DeBoer and the rest of the coaching staff will not start the season empty-handed despite missing Harmon. Luke Metz, Duke Johnson and Abduall Sanders Jr. have all decided to join the Crimson Tide. All of their commitments appear secure, and none of them show any intention of moving to another program.

Another big silver lining in this pursuit for Harmon is that they can now refocus their recruiting efforts. Right now, Ty Jackson is the biggest whale in front of the Crimson Tide. DeBoer and the Crimson Tide have not yet secured his 2025 commitment. With all of those ups and downs in their system over, they can now put all of their efforts and resources into getting him.

There's no point in mourning a recruit who turned down the Alabama football program. What matters is overcoming the circumstances and still having the second-best recruiting class in college football.

Jay Postrado is a sportswriter at ClutchPoints, specializing in NBA, NFL, MLB, tennis and Formula 1 coverage. He is also a contributing writer for Last Word on Sports and FanSided.