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By WVUA-23 Sports Reporter Theodore Fernandez
Kalen DeBoer continues to use the spring transfer portal to his advantage. The first year head coach already had brought back star tackle Kadyn Proctor from Iowa, 2023 Lou Groza Award winning kicker Graham Nicholson from Miami of Ohio, defensive back Cam Howard from Charlotte, and corner DaShawn Jones from Wake Forest. DeBoer looked to the Big 10 Conference to expand his roster even further this weekend, adding Penn State safety King Mack and Michigan State lineman Gino VanDeMark.
Mack is a massive addition for an inexperienced Alabama secondary. 247Sports’ No. 4 ranked safety in the transfer portal, he played in all 13 games for the Nittany Lions as a true freshman in 2023, mostly on special teams. A former four-star recruit out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Florida, Mack was a multi-time state champion track athlete and boasts Olympic-level speed with his 10.6 second 100.
He has been nicknamed “The Acrobat” and is a massive pickup for Kane Wommack’s defense who should play a significant role right away. With three years of eligibility, Mack has big-time potential for the Crimson Tide, both in 2024 and down the line.
VanDeMark provides much needed depth to an understaffed offensive line. Alabama now has 14 scholarship linemen, and, after DeBoer talking at length all spring about how important it was to add offensive line depth, it appears as though the Crimson Tide are finally clear on that front. VanDeMark played in 18 games for the Spartans over the past two years and has two years of eligibility remaining. He is expected to serve as a backup at all three interior positions.
Alabama now has a full roster. While it is possible that somebody else transfers away, as of right now all 85 scholarships have been awarded. DeBoer and his squad are just about ready for summer practices, which will start in August.
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