Saban denies Bama broke rules to add Harrell: 'We don't tamper with anybody'

Alabama head coach Nick Saban said the program did not violate NCAA rules by recruiting former Louisville wide receiver Tyler Harrell before he entered the transfer portal in April.

"We don't tamper with anybody," Saban said Wednesday, according to ESPN's Alex Scarborough.

Saban's denial comes days after Louisville head coach Scott Satterfield suggested that tampering occurred with Harrell. Satterfield conceded that he couldn't prove it.

"I think it's not only (Harrell), it's happened before here," Satterfield recently told 247Sports' Chris Hummer. "Last year, we had a few guys that jumped into the portal, and the next day they're announcing where they're going. Look at that and know that something is going on before they went in the portal. But I do think it's happening all across the country. It's not just our program."

Harrell entered the transfer portal April 12 and committed to Alabama 10 days later. He racked up 523 yards and six touchdowns on 18 receptions through 12 appearances with the Cardinals last season.

"I don't know of anybody that tampered with him," Saban said of the speedy receiver. "I don't really know that anybody's ever tampered with our players."

Saban added, "It's really hard to control third parties" in the recruiting process, according to 247Sports' Charlie Potter.

The 70-year-old coach has previously expressed concern about how college athletes being able to profit off of their name, image, and likeness could affect the transfer portal.

"When you have a guy leave your program and go someplace else the day after the game, I don't have any evidence that anything happened and I'm not making any accusations, but it makes you wonder, I guess," Saban said Wednesday. "But hopefully we have enough honesty and integrity out there amongst us professionally in our sport that people are going to abide by the rules."