The Alabama Crimson Tide was dealt a massive blow in the transfer portal early this week when Clay-Chalkville High School alumni and former five-star recruit Jaylen Mbakwe announced his intention to enter the transfer portal after rumors flew of a seven-figure NIL offer to get him to leave Tuscaloosa.

But before anyone could even guess which school the offer was coming from, Mbakwe exited the portal just as quickly as he entered on Tuesday and said he was staying at Alabama.

Mbakwe, who was recruited to Alabama as a cornerback and was featured there and on special teams mostly during his freshman season in 2024, played both sides of the ball in high school and helped his team defeat fellow freshman star Ryan Williams in the 6A State Championship game. In a game that was ironically played at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Williams and Mbakwe put on a show and each had massive games before Mbakwe’s team defeated Williams’ Saraland squad in a last second thriller.

Since then, Williams and Mbakwe have been very close friends and have remained that way through their freshman seasons.

The team likely has Williams to thank in no small part for keeping his buddy in Tuscaloosa and figuring to play a huge part of the team in 2025 and beyond both on offense and defense.