The transfer portal and lax transfer rules combined with NIL have caused coaches of smaller college programs additional headaches, and Miami University (Ohio) head coach Chuck Martin is calling out the University of Alabama for allegedly stealing his star kicker.

In an interview discussing the upcoming season, Martin was asked about his special teams unit, including losing his starting kicker Graham Nicholson.

Martin accused the Crimson Tide of stealing his kicker, claiming "they illegally recruited" him.

“We didn’t lose him. He’s at Alabama. We know exactly where he’s at,” Martin replied. “Again, you media people – it’s all pretend. Like, no. Alabama stole our kicker. ... They illegally recruited our kicker and stole him from us. And like, that’s a fact. But that's college football."

RELATED: UAB's Dilfer dares Power 5 coaches to try to steal his players — 'I'm going to call your a-- out'

“We act like it’s not – we live in this la la world like, 'Hey, let’s not talk reality,'” he continued. “I don’t know why. Everybody knows what’s going on. A couple other schools tried to steal him."

Ahead of Thursday's practice, Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer denied any tampering with Nicholson, saying his staff "did everything we're supposed to."

"I don't know anything about that, I guess, that comment," DeBoer stated. "Yeah ...[he] entered the portal, and we reached out to him, so that's how it goes, right? So, we did everything we were supposed to."

Nicholson, who won the Lou Groza Award for the nation's best kicker in 2023, will be replacing the all-time Division 1 points leader in Will Reichard.

To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email trent.baker@1819news.com.

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