In the wake of Nick Saban's surprise retirement, Alabama is facing another setback as freshman quarterback Julian Sayin is expected to enter the transfer portal on Friday, according to ESPN. Sayin, a five-star recruit and the top-ranked QB in the class of '24, had initially chosen Alabama to play under Saban but now plans to explore his options with the coaching change.

The departure of Sayin marks yet another blow for new head coach Kalen DeBoer, who took over from the legendary Saban just last week. Since then, the Alabama program has seen the exit of several key players, including freshman All-American safety Caleb Downs, top returning wide receiver Isaiah Bond, and seven others. In total, 25 scholarship players have departed the program this offseason.

While the losses have been significant, DeBoer did receive some relief on Thursday with the addition of ex-Washington quarterback Austin Mack, who joins a strong quarterback room that includes returning starter Jalen Milroe, redshirt sophomore Ty Simpson, and Dylan Lonergan.

Sayin, who had an impressive high school senior season with 2,369 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and just one interception, will have several schools to choose from as he enters the transfer portal. During his recruiting process, he received offers from prestigious programs including Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State.

The decision to leave Alabama may have been influenced by the changes in the coaching staff, particularly the replacement of offensive coordinator Tommy Rees with Ryan Grubb. Sayin was reportedly close to Rees and had concerns about who would fill the important role. However, his high school coach, Thadd MacNeal, mentioned that Sayin was not in a state of panic and was waiting to see the quality of the new hire.

"It's a matter of his class, of who they're gonna be able to keep. The coordinator's gonna be important because he had a good relationship with coach (Tommy) Rees," MacNeal stated.

As Sayin prepares to enter the transfer portal, Alabama will have to adapt to the loss of another highly-talented recruit in the midst of an already significant transition period. The team's ability to adjust and fill the void left by Sayin's departure will be crucial as they navigate the upcoming season under new leadership.