Alabama 2019 4-star recruit Alfano asks to enter transfer portal
Alabama Crimson Tide freshman defensive lineman Antonio Alfano's parents announced Friday on Twitter that their son is asking to enter the transfer portal.
Alfano has been under some scrutiny lately, most notably from Alabama head coach Nick Saban. Earlier this week when asked if he had any update on Alfano's status going forward, Saban said, "not really, he's kind of disappeared a bit."
Alfano's parents indicated that their son's absence is largely due to an illness that's left his grandmother on life support. The parents say he's taken his grandmother's sickness very hard because the two are quite close.
Antonio’s grandmother recently fell very ill and is still fighting on life support. He is very close with her. Since this illness took effect, Antonio has taken it very hard. He has not attended classes and practices.
— Frankie-Hilda Alfano (@frankalfano76) September 13, 2019
However, other comments from Saban earlier this week hinted at separate issues between player and coach.
“He’s going through some discipline things with me,” said Saban, according to Charlie Potter of 24/7 Sports. “If he does what he’s supposed to do - I’m not going to tell you what. But whether it’s academic, which that has something to do with it, and being responsible and accountable to do what he’s supposed to do like every other player on our team.
"So, we want to get him right, we want to help him, we want to help him do the right things. But he’s got to make those choices and decisions, too”
Though Alfano's parents made it clear they think he should continue attending Alabama, the 4-star recruit's name will soon be in the transfer portal, which means any college team can contact him. The portal, established last year, allows players to enter and withdraw their name at any point.
Alabama lost seven players through the portal last year, most significantly 2019 Heisman hopeful Jalen Hurts, who's now playing for Oklahoma. Alfano would be the first from the 2019 recruiting class to depart.
Alfano enrolled early to participate in the Crimson Tide's spring game in April, when he recorded a pair of sacks. The 6-foot-4, 285-lbs lineman hasn't appeared in either of Bama's first two games of the 2019 season.