Miami (Ohio) coach claims Alabama ‘stole’ prized kicker in transfer portal

Miami (Ohio) football coach Chuck Martin did not hold back with his criticism of Alabama, saying the Crimson Tide “stole” and ‘illegally recruited’ his top kicker. 

Ranking among the nation’s top kickers, Graham Nicholson had a superb 2023 season for the RedHawks, making 27 of 28 of his field-goal attempts and 35 of 37 extra points. ​​Winning the Lou Groza Award for the best collegiate place-kicker, Nicholson helped his team to an 11-3 record and its first MAC championship since 2019. 

However, instead of returning to play for Miami as a senior, Nicholson transferred to Alabama via the portal during the offseason. 

Martin blasted the Crimson Tide for the move in an interview video circulating online Thursday. 

“Alabama stole our kicker,” Martin said. “They illegally recruited our kicker and stole him from us, and that’s a fact.’ 

‘We didn’t lose him. He’s at Alabama. We know exactly where he’s at,” Martin added.

Martin also expressed frustration with the current state of transfers in college football.

‘But that’s college football,” he said. “But we act like it’s not … we live in this la-la world, like hey let’s not talk reality. I don’t know why, I mean everyone knows what’s going on.’

Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer responded to Martin’s comments when asked about them Thursday.

‘[Nicholson] entered the portal and we reached out to him, so that’s how it goes,’ DeBoer said. ‘We did everything we were supposed to.’

Miami (Ohio) will kick off its 2024 season against Northwestern on Aug. 31, while Alabama will take on Western Kentucky.