Alabama wide receiver takes victory lap over transfer portal win

Former Georgia wide receiver Jermaine Burton announced he would be transferring to Alabama on Sunday afternoon. After being on the winning side of the national championship during the 2021 season, Burton will now try to go back-to-back with the opposite team.

His commitment was foreshadowed by current Alabama wide receiver Traeshon Holden, who said on social media that he would ensure Jermaine Burton landed with the Crimson Tide. After accomplishing his goal, Holden took a victory lap.

“Bama fans told y’all all he had to do was call me,” Holden tweeted with multiple emojis and #RollTide.

The Alabama Crimson Tide made a big move at wide receiver in the transfer portal last season with Jameson Williams from Ohio State. On Sunday, they pulled Jermaine Burton to join a young core which includes Traeshon Holden.

Burton had 53 career receptions with Georgia, accumulating 901 receiving yards and eight touchdowns with four carries for 50 yards. He was the second-leading receiver for the Bulldogs last season, working well with quarterback Stetson Bennett. Now, he will have Heisman Trophy winner Byrce Young throwing the passes.

After Burton entered the transfer portal, Chris Hummer of 247Sports reported Alabama could be a possible destination. Two other SEC programs received mentions as well, including LSU and Texas A&M. The Crimson Tide were able to win out for the talented wide receiver.

Coming out of high school, Burton was a four-star prospect according to the On3 Consensus. Alabama did originally offer the wide receiver from the state of California, where he ranked at No. 16 nationally for his position.

Alabama adds to transfer portal haul

While Alabama has not landed as many transfer portal prospects as many other SEC schools, it has made the most of its few additions. Before locking up Burton, Nick Saban’s staff secured versatile running back Jahmyr Gibbs from Georgia Tech and former five-star cornerback Eli Ricks from LSU.

Both bring great pedigree and promise to become day-one starters once on campus.

Gibbs will now bring over 1,211 total yards and six touchdowns from 2021 to Tuscaloosa with him. 746 of the yards and four touchdowns came on the ground. His best performance of the season came against Miami, where Gibbs averaged 12.6 yards per touch and got into the endzone twice — one rushing and one receiving.

In 14 games over two seasons with the Tigers, Ricks had 31 tackles and five interceptions, including two pick-sixes. He also arrived as a five-star recruit out of Florida’s IMG Academy in the Class of 2020 and was the No. 4 recruit in the state of Florida, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.