The topic of transfers and opt-outs was again the main topic of discussion the morning before the Sugar Bowl.

Nick Saban again praised the decisions of Will Anderson and Bryce Young to play in the 11 a.m. CT Saturday game with Kansas State while addressing those who decided not to play.

Alabama had 12 players on the 2022 roster who entered the transfer portal when the regular season ended.

“And even though we didn’t have any opt-outs, we have like 10 guys that got into the transfer portal,” Saban said Friday morning. “And I gave them every opportunity to play in the game if they wanted to. And they didn’t.

“So I don’t know if that’s a good thing for players — not to have to stay committed to their team for the entire season.”

A night earlier, Saban spoke about this concept on his radio show.

”Well, when you have guys on your team sometimes that — I call them energy vampires — you use all your energy on these guys, trying to get them to do what they’re supposed to do,” Saban said Thursday night. “Those are the kind of guys that don’t end up playing in bowl games, and don’t end up doing the best things and make the best choices and decisions for the team and all that, because they’ve got other motivations, which I’m not being critical of.

“But this team has really worked hard and done really, really well. And a lot of players on our team have made a significant improvement. It’s been one of the most enjoyable bowl practices.”

RELATED: Nick Saban: Alabama bowl prep has been Tide’s best ever after ‘energy vampires’ left

Kicker Jack Martin announced his intention to enter the portal midseason but continued to dress with the team through the Iron Bowl. He announced his transfer to Houston after the regular season.

Of those 12 players from the 2022 team who entered the portal, 10 have committed or signed with new programs. Only running back Trey Sanders and offensive lineman Damieon George hasn’t announced a new destination.

Alabama players in the portal