Alabama football general manager Courtney Morgan does not take chances with the NCAA transfer site.
Morgan needs proven players. Portal gamers are more expensive than high school prospects, he claims. It is a larger investment. When it comes to portal additions, Alabama requires a “known commodity.”
Alabama needed a cornerback. The Crimson Tide had a limited roster at the position after losing Jahlil Hurley (Kansas) and DeVonta Smith (Notre Dame) to the portal. Morgan knew where to go.
“I remember Cam Calhoun when he came out of high school,” said Morgan, who was the director of player personnel at Michigan in 2021, where Calhoun signed in 2023. “So I remember Cam as a youngster, and (was) just watching his path.”
Cameron Calhoun, Alabama’s second defensive transfer, proved to be a wonderful fit, joining former Florida defensive end Kelby Collins.
Calhoun transferred to Utah after one season with the Wolverines and appeared in 11 games in 2024, totaling 21 tackles, nine pass break-ups (fourth-best in the Big 12), and one interception.
In 2024, Calhoun, a Cincinnati native, was all Winton Woods High School football coach Chad Murphy had hoped for.
“I didn’t doubt this dude would be a big-time football player for a second,” Murphy told the reporter.
Cameron Calhoun’s contributions to Alabama football can be attributed to his hard work at Winton Woods.
Calhoun was a sophomore defensive back who played wide receiver with two seniors starting cornerback on Division I paths: Tamarion Crumpley, who had just concluded his redshirt junior season at Pittsburgh, and Caleb Tubbs, who signed with Miami (Ohio).
Calhoun shifted to cornerback, playing with Jermaine Mathews Jr., who would later play for Ohio State.
“(Calhoun) just kind of went crazy from there,” Murphy explained.
Calhoun led Winton Woods, the same program that produced Alabama 2025 linebacker Justin Hill, to a state title in 2021, with nine interceptions, 61 tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. He concluded his career with a school-record 14 interceptions.
“He’s one of them guys, he’s almost like a Deion (Sanders),” Murphy exclaimed. “He would post on social media, ‘I’m going to get a pick tonight.'” And he’d get to choose. I am talking about the playoffs.
“He’d almost speak things into existence.”
Why is Alabama Cameron Calhoun’s third collegiate football program?
Travis Hunter catches a pass over Smith Snowden (2) and Cameron Calhoun (4) in the second quarter at Folsom Field.
Calhoun is not new to the transfer portal.
He joined after playing two games as a freshman at Michigan in 2023. In 2024, he played 11 games for Utah, but only made one start.
Murphy regards Calhoun as a player who “knows exactly what he wants.”
“He’s looked out for what’s best for him, you know what I mean?” Murphy stated. “Some people view that adversely these days. But the guy understood exactly what he wanted. He understands what he’s capable of, and he believes in himself to get the job done.”
Murphy remembered Calhoun as a player who put in the additional effort, driving to the Winton Woods football field and seeing the cornerback slog out reps, demonstrating his desire to be the best he could be.
“The kid wants to be great,” Murphy remarked. “He is tough-minded. He is competitive. He is motivated. He simply wants to go get it. At times, I felt he was in too much of a hurry to do so.”
Morgan understood who Calhoun could be. But he didn’t just believe his gut.
Morgan acknowledged knowing what former Michigan co-defensive coordinator and current Los Angeles Chargers defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale had stated about Calhoun. He knew what Utah cornerbacks coach Sharrieff Shah had said about Calhoun.
“Both of those guys had the same thing to say about him,” Morgan told me. “And what you want to do in the portal when you do background is make sure the messaging is consistent.”
In Calhoun, Alabama discovered the “known commodity” it required at cornerback.
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