Former Alabama linebacker Justin Okoronkwo has decided to leave the Crimson Tide after the 2024 season and join SEC rival South Carolina, a team that happens to be on Alabama’s 2025 schedule.
Okoronkwo, originally from Germany, is relatively new to football, having transitioned from gymnastics and soccer only a few years ago. Despite his inexperience, he quickly made an impression, becoming Europe’s top high school football prospect and earning a spot in Alabama’s 2024 recruiting class. However, his journey in Tuscaloosa took an unexpected turn when head coach Nick Saban left three weeks after his signing.
During his freshman year, Okoronkwo appeared in 12 games, mostly as a reserve and on special teams, recording 13 tackles. Despite staying through the coaching transition, he decided to transfer after assessing the competition for playing time in Alabama’s linebacker unit. With experienced players like Deontae Lawson and Justin Jefferson returning, along with the addition of Colorado transfer Nikhai Hill-Green, Okoronkwo felt his chances for a starting spot were slim.
Speaking to *The State Newspaper*, he explained, “I felt like the starting spots were already gone, and it’s hard to compete — especially at a place like Bama — with guys who are more experienced than you.”
At South Carolina, Okoronkwo is expected to have a greater opportunity to play, as the Gamecocks need to replace two starting linebackers for the 2025 season. However, his decision to transfer has sparked debate about the evolving culture of college football, where players increasingly use the transfer portal to find immediate opportunities rather than waiting for a chance to develop and compete.
Okoronkwo’s move will face its ultimate test in October when South Carolina hosts Alabama, offering him a chance to prove himself against his former team.
