In the age of the NCAA transfer portal essentially serving as college football’s free agency, expectations will be high any time a team pursues and adds a player from outside of its program.

That was the case last offseason when Alabama picked up Louisville wide receiver Tyler Harrell and LSU cornerback Eli Ricks from the portal, signaling both could play big roles in 2022.

For both players and especially Harrell, it never fully came together.

Harrell suffered a foot injury in the preseason that kept him out until midseason, and his playing time was scarce after that. Ricks remained on the sideline until he earned a starting role in October, then missed time in November because of a concussion.

Ricks, a junior, and Harrell, a fifth-year senior, both addressed their futures after Saturday’s Sugar Bowl, which requires its postgame locker room to be open to reporters. It was the first time either had been allowed to speak to reporters since arriving at Alabama.

“Still debating,” Harrell said. “We’re gonna see.”

“I’m gonna speak to my coach first. I’m about to speak to him right now actually,” Ricks said. “So we’ll know pretty soon. We’ll know by the next coming days — today or tomorrow, probably.”

The options for both players include the transfer portal and entering the NFL draft, with Ricks as the more likely option to turn professional. He was speculated as a potential first-round pick in the spring, although the 6-foot-2 former five-star prospect is no longer among the top 10 cornerback prospects ranked by ESPN’s Mel Kiper.

Harrell was listed as a redshirt senior by Alabama this season after four years at Louisville. He would have a sixth season available to him under the NCAA’s COVID-19 waiver for the 2020 season.

Billed for his speed upon arriving in Tuscaloosa after spring practice, Harrell emphasized the role his foot injury played in keeping him off the field.

“It was definitely a learning experience for me, coming from the SEC from the ACC,” he said. “My expectation was high hopes, but unfortunately when I injured myself, it kind of set me back a little bit, and kind of lingered throughout the season. I tried to play through it. It just wasn’t clicking, for real.”

Harrell made his debut late in a blowout win over Mississippi State, then appeared in four other regular-season games. At one point in November, Nick Saban said Harrell was healthy and expressed how Alabama needed to find ways to use his speed.

But that never happened, and Harrell finished with two catches for 18 yards. He was in uniform but not part of Alabama’s offense in Saturday’s Sugar Bowl, with freshmen Isaiah Bond and Kobe Prentice seeing the most playing time after starters Ja’Corey Brooks and Jermaine Burton.

This story will be updated.

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