Miami-Ohio Coach Accuses Alabama of Poaching Kicker

Miami-Ohio head football coach Chuck Martin did not mince words on Thursday when addressing the loss of his star kicker, Graham Nicholson, to the Alabama Crimson Tide. In a fiery response, Martin accused Alabama of illegally recruiting Nicholson, who was a standout performer for the Red Hawks and the winner of last season’s Lou Groza Award, which is given to the best kicker in college football.

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“We didn’t lose him. He’s at Alabama. We know exactly where he’s at,” Martin said when asked about Nicholson’s departure via the transfer portal. “Again, you media people - it’s all pretend. Like, no. Alabama stole our kicker. They illegally recruited our kicker and stole him from us. That’s a fact.”

Nicholson, who had an impressive season that earned him national recognition, initially entered the transfer portal in December 2023. After briefly removing his name from consideration in February, he re-entered the portal in April 2024 and joined Alabama later that month, according to his X page.

Martin’s comments have added fuel to ongoing debates about the transfer portal and its impact on college football, particularly concerning the recruitment practices of Power Five programs like Alabama. Critics of the portal argue that it has created an environment where smaller schools are increasingly vulnerable to losing their top talent to more prominent programs with greater resources.

The allegations made by Martin are serious, as they suggest a violation of NCAA rules, which prohibit tampering with athletes currently enrolled at other institutions. If substantiated, these claims could lead to significant repercussions for Alabama, though proving such allegations in the world of college athletics can be challenging.

The situation underscores the growing tension between smaller programs and powerhouse schools in the age of the transfer portal. As the landscape of college athletics continues to evolve, incidents like this are likely to become more common, sparking further debate about fairness, competitive balance, and the integrity of recruitment practices.

For now, the focus remains on how Miami-Ohio will cope with the loss of Nicholson and how Alabama will integrate one of the nation’s top kickers into their already star-studded roster. The fallout from Martin’s comments may continue to reverberate as the college football community watches to see if any formal actions are taken in response to these serious allegations.

Kalen DeBoer spoke to the media on Thursday, where he was asked about the incident. DeBoer stated, "I don't know anything about that comment. He entered the transfer portal, and then we reached out to him. So, that's how it goes, right?"

Nicholson will help Alabama replace the production of the NCAA All-time leading scorer, Will Reichard. Reichard was drafted in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft.