Alabama football's Kalen DeBoer responded Thursday to an allegation by Miami (Ohio) head coach Chuck Martin that the Crimson Tide and "stole" transfer kicker Graham Nicholson. On Wednesday, Martin claimed that the Crimson Tide 'illegally recruited' Nicholson from the transfer portal in an interview on the Redhawks' official website.

"I don't know anything about that comment," DeBoer said on Thursday. "He entered into the portal, and we reached out to him. So, that's how it goes, right?"

Martin's comments Wednesday were pointed to say the least.

“We didn’t lose him, he’s at Alabama,” Martin said. “We know exactly where he’s at. 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 that’s a fact. We act like it’s not. We live in this la-la world, like ‘Hey, let’s not talk...’ I don’t know why. Everybody knows what’s going on.

“So yeah, Alabama stole our kicker. A couple other schools tried to steal him but then… OK, what was the question?”

Nicholson transferred to Alabama in April ahead of the 2024 season. He is the reigning Lou Groza Award winner, which is awarded to college football's top placekicker.

Alabama opens its 2024 season on Aug. 31, hosting Western Kentucky at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

2024 SCHEDULE: Alabama football schedule 2024: Game times for Georgia, Wisconsin, USF, Western Kentucky

GAMEDAY GUIDE: How to roll with the Tide: A guide to 2024 game day activities in Tuscaloosa

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football's Kalen DeBoer responds to stolen kicker allegation