Former Florida Edge commits to Alabama via transfer portal

Alabama football received a transfer portal commitment at a position of need on Tuesday. Kelby Collins, an edge rusher, committed to the Crimson Tide after starting college at Florida.

Collins announced the news on his social media platforms, together with Hayes Fawcett of On3.

Collins’ promise indicates that the Gardendale product will return to his home state. He pondered attending UA after graduating from high school in 2023, but decided to join the Gators instead.

He’ll fill a gap in Alabama’s current roster. Que Robinson, whose 2024 season was cut short due to an injury, is out of eligibility, and the Tide had already lost Keanu Koht to the transfer portal, thus another hand to aid them with the pass rush was a top portal target.

Collins began his career at Florida as an edge rusher, recording 23 total tackles and 1.5 sacks as a depth piece. His performance in 2023 garnered him freshman All-SEC recognition.

However, a position change for the 2024 season sent him down the Gator depth chart. Collins went to three-technique end and made only six tackles in 2024, all of which came against Mississippi State.

After Collins arrived, the 247Sports composite graded him as a four-star portal talent. He was a three-star recruit coming out of Gardendale High School.

Collins is listed at 6-foot-4 and 278 pounds. Coming out of high school, he weighed 265 pounds.

The transfer site is presently accessible for undergraduate applications until December 28. Alabama’s athletes will have an extra window following their season-ending performance in the ReliaQuest Bowl on December 31.