Overview
- Smothers committed to Alabama on Jan. 5, then flipped to Texas on Jan. 11 after his Austin visit, becoming the first Alabama pledge to reverse course in the 2026 portal cycle, per On3’s Hayes Fawcett.
- He produced 939 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, and 37 receptions for 189 yards and a score in 2025 at NC State, and is ranked No. 27 overall and the No. 2 running back in the On3 Industry Transfer Portal Rankings.
- The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Charlotte native has two seasons of eligibility remaining and joins transfer Raleek Brown on a Texas depth chart retooling after losses that included Tre Wisner and CJ Baxter.
- Alabama is left seeking answers at running back after a disappointing 2025 ground game, with the undergraduate transfer entry window still open through Friday, according to AL.com.
- Former Alabama linebacker Christian Miller publicly faulted the Tide for relying on a verbal commitment without a formal NIL or financial agreement before Smothers’ departure.