The transfer portal has been unkind to Colorado so far this offseason.

But on Thursday, it offered a reprieve. A former blue-chip offensive lineman with a national title pedigree is coming to Boulder. Tommy Brown, a four-year tackle/guard with the Alabama Crimson Tide, announced his intention to transfer to Colorado. He’ll have two years of eligibility.

A 6-foot-7, 320-pound lineman originally from Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei, Brown chose the Tide out of the 2018 class over Arizona State, Auburn, and more than a dozen other Power Five offers. CU recruited him out of high school but couldn’t land the former 4-star. Brown was rated as the fourth-best guard in his class and the 132nd overall player, per the 247 Composite.

This past season, Brown appeared in 10 games, mostly in a reserve capacity, but did earn one start at right guard. Over his four years in Tuscaloosa, Brown made 28 appearances as both a guard and a tackle. He played on teams that went to the national championship three times.

At Colorado, he’ll join a group of offensive linemen that returns three starters from a season ago and 14 overall scholarship players. Right tackle Frank Fillip, right guard Casey Roddick, and left tackle Jake Wiley are back as starters, though given CU’s general offensive struggles in 2021 and the presence of new o-line coach Kyle DeVan, competition should be open all over the board.

Brown is the fourth transfer CU has landed so far this offseason, joining former Houston quarterback Maddox Kopp, former Baylor wideout RJ Sneed II, and former Incarnate Word defensive lineman Chance Main.