Former Alabama top recruit commits to SEC rival

Antonio Alfano. Mickey Welsh / Advertiser

Former No. 1 recruit who Nick Saban said 'quit' at Alabama commits to SEC rival

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 12/2/23

Antonio Alfano has been everywhere, man.

He attended three different high schools and has been on three college rosters to date.

It's time to make it a fourth, as Alfano — the former No. 1 overall prospect in the 2019 class, per 247Sports — has announced that he's committed to LSU as a JUCO transfer.

After talking to this morning @CoachLindsey I informed him that I am COMMITTED TO THE LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY!! #GeauxTigers #AGTG @LSUfootball @CoachLindsey @CoachBrianKelly @JUCOFFrenzy
— Antonio Alfano (@Antonio43863821) November 29, 2023

A former five-star, Alfano signed with Alabama out of high school. He played in the Crimson Tide's spring game but transferred during his freshman season. His departure from the roster was so abrupt that Nick Saban basically called him a quitter.

"I just know that the guy basically quit. He quit going to class, he quit coming here. ... Until he responds, you just have to assume the guy quit," Saban had said of Alfano.

Alfano transferred to Colorado but never played. He had said that he was diagnosed with epilepsy and couldn't practice as a result. With that said, he was also suspended at Colorado for a team rules violation.

He then transferred again to Independence Community College in Kansas, but again, didn't play.

His latest transfer, to Lackawanna College, apparently paid off. He spent this past fall playing for the Falcons, where he again made a name for himself. He picked up several big-time offers and is ranked as the consensus No. 3 JUCO player in the 2024 class.

He'll now try his luck at LSU, but one imagines Brian Kelly isn't going to give him the longest of leashes.

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