Alabama football brought in some help at cornerback through the transfer portal recently, in the form of Utah transfer Cam Calhoun. On Friday, after the Crimson Tide’s first ReliaQuest Bowl practice in Tampa, Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kane Wommack discussed how Calhoun can help UA next season.
“You always look at experience value out of the transfer portal,” Wommack said. “And I think we’re addressing some needs from some experience standpoint of a guy that can play multiples positions. He can do a lot of different things. He’s shown physicality.”
Calhoun spent the 2024 season with the Utes, after beginning his college career at Michigan. He saw the field in 11 games for Utah, finishing the year with 21 tackles, nine pass breakups and an interception.
The 6-foot, 177-pound Ohio native also has an intangible that excited Wommack and the rest of the Alabama coaching staff.
“Quite honestly, one of the things that I’ve realized that we have to navigate here in the transfer portal is finding young men that believe they can play at Alabama,” Wommack said. “And more often than not, there’s a number of guys that are excited about it, interested in it, but when the rubber meets the road, they don’t think that they can play here, and so they choose not to come. Which is OK, if you don’t think you can play there, then you shouldn’t come play at Alabama.”
No such concerns with Calhoun.
“Cam walked in the door with a mentality that he belonged at Alabama,” Wommack said. “And typically, to me, those are the guys that would be successful here.”
Calhoun won’t be on the field for the Crimson Tide on Tuesday, when it faces Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. That game is scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m. CT and will be aired on ESPN.
