Alabama linebacker Demouy Kennedy announced Wednesday he has committed to transfer to Colorado.

Kennedy, who announced his decision on Instagram, had entered the NCAA transfer portal Jan. 17 after three seasons with the Tide.

The former Theodore High School star was the state of Alabama’s top-rated recruit by 247 Sports in the 2020 high school class. He was rated No. 39 among all prospects nationally in his class.

Kennedy joins first-year Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders and reunites with new Colorado defensive coordinator Charles Kelly, who served as Alabama’s safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator during Kennedy’s tenure in Tuscaloosa.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Kennedy worked primarily on special teams in three seasons for Alabama. He appeared in 23 games, all as a reserve. Some of his playing time in 2021 came as a running back after injuries at that position thinned Alabama’s depth.

Kennedy tore his ACL during an Oct. 1, 2022 game at Arkansas and missed the remainder of the season.

He was one of 14 scholarship players from Alabama to enter the transfer portal since the start of the 2022 season. Only wide receiver Tyler Harrell, eligible to play a sixth season elsewhere, remains in the portal.

Kennedy entered the transfer portal one day before the NCAA’s new 45-day winter transfer window for undergraduates closed Jan. 18. Undergraduates will have a spring window to enter the portal April 15-30.

This is the second consecutive offseason in which an Alabama player has transferred to Colorado. Offensive tackle Tommy Brown made the move after four seasons as a backup for the Tide, starting all 12 games last season for the Buffaloes as a graduate student.

Alabama lost both of its starting inside linebackers, Henry To’o To’o and Jaylen Moody, this offseason to the NFL draft. Deontae Lawson is expected to start at one inside linebacker spot in 2023. A pair of freshmen, Shawn Murphy and Jihaad Campbell, both saw playing time in the Sugar Bowl and could compete for playing time next season. Alabama also landed Trezmen Marshall, a veteran inside linebacker from Georgia, through the transfer portal last month.

Alabama also has Kendrick Blackshire and Ian Jackson on scholarship at the position, and added junior college transfer Justin Jefferson for next season.

Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.