As Alabama continues to bleed talent in the post-Saban era, Ohio State has turned predator, poaching two of the Crimson Tide’s former five-star defenders. It worsened Kalen DeBoer’s portal problems and swung momentum sharply in the Buckeyes’ favor.

On Monday, January 12, the Buckeyes pulled off a major coup in the transfer portal, officially landing commitments from two former Alabama defensive stars in the college football transfer portal: defensive lineman James Smith and edge rusher Qua Russaw.

They officially landed commitments today to replace the likes of Kayden McDonald, Arvell Reese, and Sonny Styles by landing two former Alabama defensive stars.

These two guys are a significant coup because they were both top-ranked prospects available in the transfer portal. Scouts recognized James Smith as the top defensive tackle available, and Qua Russaw stood out as a top edge-rushing prospect. They are both expected to compete for a starting role immediately.

It’s also a remarkable story because Smith and Russaw were high school teammates in Montgomery, Alabama. They committed to Alabama together straight out of high school, and now they’ve committed to Ohio State together via the portal. They both visited Columbus just last week before making their decision to become Buckeyes.

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Let’s discuss what they bring to the table. Smith, a defensive lineman with one year of eligibility remaining, is coming off a 2025 season in which he recorded 26 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Russaw, an edge rusher with two years of eligibility remaining, has racked up a total of 49 tackles and 2 sacks over his two seasons at Alabama.

Last season, the Ohio State Buckeyes had an absolutely incredible front-seven on defense (statistically the best in all of college football). They basically shut everyone down, leading the nation in total defense and scoring defense, allowing only 9.3 points per game. The Buckeyes plan to double down on the production next season, and head coach Ryan Day is cashing in on his newest 5-star additions.

Russaw played linebacker at Alabama, mostly rushing the quarterback off the edge. At Ohio State, he’s expected to move into more of a defensive end role. That means his primary job will be to attack the quarterback and set the edge against the run. The Buckeyes may still let him stand up at times, depending on the situation.

However, Smith fills a much more urgent need on the inside. With Kayden McDonald leaving for the NFL, Ohio State needed help at defensive tackle. Smith can step into that role right away. He’s strong against the run and does a solid job pushing offensive linemen backward on passing plays.

The additions of Smith and Russaw are part of a larger recruiting push by Ohio State. This move is part of a broader, aggressive defensive overhaul by Ryan Day. He’s already secured commitments from safeties Earl Little Jr. and Terry Moore, along with defensive lineman John Walker, signaling a logical strategy to build an impenetrable defense.

All of it points to one simple goal: making a serious push for the 2026 season.

What’s going on with Bama

Right after Indiana absolutely crushed them 38–3 in the Rose Bowl, things got chaotic. Alabama started losing players left and right. On defense, notable players like former five-star recruit Keon Keeley and Noah Carter departed the program.

Offensively, they’re saying goodbye to running back Richard Young and their 2025 leader in touchdown catches, Isaiah Horton. Additionally, key veteran players like quarterback Ty Simpson and offensive linemen Kadyn Proctor and Parker Brailsford were lost to the NFL draft.

However, Kalen DeBoer has managed to secure some key additions to counter the losses.

They snagged DL Devan Thompkins from USC and linebacker Caleb Woodson from Virginia Tech to beef up the defense. The offense also got some help, adding O-lineman Kaden Strayhorn from Michigan and TE Josh Ford from Oklahoma State.

They’re also adding specialists and a couple more offensive playmakers to try to patch things up. By the looks of the current Bama roster, they are nowhere near a playoff-caliber team, and with just four days left in the portal, Kalen DeBoer needs to land some big fish up front to make 2026 competitive again.