Former Texas A&M 5-star LT Overton commits to Alabama: How this helps the Crimson Tide

Former Texas A&M defensive lineman LT Overton has committed to Alabama, he announced on social media Tuesday. This is the Crimson Tide’s first transfer portal addition in 2024. Overton has two years of eligibility remaining.

Overton played the last two seasons for the Aggies. He played in all 12 games for Texas A&M in 2023, recording six solo tackles. For his college career, Overton has 48 total tackles, 18 of them solo.

Overton entered the portal on Dec. 5 and was the No. 2 ranked defensive lineman in the transfer portal. Overton started three of his 11 games as a true freshman in 2022, picking up 31 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack, but functioned mostly in a reserve role in 2023 and saw his production dip, with just 17 tackles in 12 games. Texas A&M finished with a 7-5 record in 2023.

Alabama was one of the schools in Overton’s final grouping as a high school senior before picking Texas A&M. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, Overton has two years left of eligibility. He will be a welcomed addition to the Tide’s defensive front that will see a good amount of attrition after this season.

Overton was originally a part of the 2023 class before reclassifying to 2022. He was a consensus five-star prospect coming out of Milton, Ga. and was ranked as the No. 14 player in the country in the Class of 2022.

Significance of this commitment
Bolstering the defensive line/edge position was a big priority for Alabama entering the transfer portal window with expected departures from Dallas Turner, Chris Braswell, Justin Eboigbe and Tim Smith. In Overton, the Tide is receiving a versatile defender who will make an impact both with his hand on the ground across the line and playing on the outside in pass-rushing situations.

This isn’t to say Alabama’s not bullish on the elite-level talent it’s recruited over the last few years at that position. Younger players on the depth chart will be counted on to fill roles next season, but there’s no substitute for experience — Overton reclassified to the 2022 class (originally a 2023 recruit) and played in 11 games with three starts as a freshman. He played in all 12 of Texas A&M’s games this season.

It’s a similar situation to inside linebacker last season and adding Trezmen Marshall. The Tide feels good about their young talent but sought a veteran presence to supplement the room.

How Overton helps Alabama
There’s no denying Overton’s talent as a former consensus five-star recruit. After two seasons of adjusting to the college level, he seems poised to take a leap next season under the tutelage of defensive line coach Freddie Roach.

The development Roach has displayed with this year’s group, along with the draw of competing against Alabama’s offensive linemen daily in practice was a selling point in Overton’s short re-recruitment since entering the transfer portal.