The rim protector Alabama basketball lacked last season may have found his way to Tuscaloosa. Clifford Omoruyi, a 6-foot-11 transfer from Rutgers, committed to the Crimson Tide after visiting the program last Monday.

Omoruyi is the fourth transfer head coach Nate Oats has brought in this offseason and arguably the most impactful. Two seasons removed from funneling its defense through Charles Bediako and struggling to find a replacement, Omoruyi can help Oats maintain a four-guard, 3-point heavy attack with a blue-collar defender in the paint. The Tide will likely be considered a national title favorite heading into the season.

Omoruyi picked UA over Georgetown, Kansas State and North Carolina. UNC had the last visit, but the Tide felt confident through the process. Assistant coach Preston Murphy has posted multiple teases to Omoruyi’s decision — a nod to the cartoon series “Clifford the Big Red Dog.”

He moved from Nigeria to New Jersey when he was 14, quickly becoming a top prospect at Roselle Catholic. Omoruyi became the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year and a first-team all-state honoree. He stayed local and committed to Rutgers, averaging double-digit points each of the last three years. He eventually climbed the Scarlet Knights’ record books.

Omoruyi finished his four seasons top in school history for field goal percentage, blocks and rebounds. Starting 32 games last season, Omoruyi blocked 93 shots, the sixth-most ever for a Rutgers player in one season — by comparison, Grant Nelson led UA with 62 blocks and Nick Pringle was second with 21.

His best season was 2022-23 in which Omoruyi averaged 13.2 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game. Per CBB Analytics, Omoruy was 99th percentile in block percentage nationally.

Omoruyi is a career 54.9% shooter with just 35 career attempts from behind the 3-point arc. Instead, Omoruyi led the nation country in dunks his junior season entering the NCAA Tournament. But the Tide won’t need Omoruyi for his offense, most of his value comes on the defensive end.

UA’s early-season defensive struggles came against bigs, notably against Arizona, Purdue and Creighton. The defense improved in a run to the Final Four, but 7-foot-2 center Donovan Clingan was able to stave off the Tide late. To get back there and create a new first for the program — reach the national championship — Oats will need Omoruyi to disrupt shots, like he did for eight blocks against Illinois on Jan. 21.

Omoruyi also opens up Nelson’s role. The transfer from North Dakota announced his return for a final season at UA.

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].