BREAKING: Oussama El Bouchayby to Transfer to Alabama

The Stride Report has confirmed that Division Two middle distance superstar, Oussama El Bouchayby, is transferring to the University of Alabama. Per TFRRS, the current freshman from Morocco will hold three years of eligibility in both outdoor track and indoor track at the end of this 2023 spring season.

El Bouchayby has made major headlines this year -- and not just in the D2 realm.

The 800 meter juggernaut initially broke the Division Two indoor 800 meter record in late February with a time of 1:47.11 at Boston University. However, he would later break his own record at the D2 NCAA Indoor Championships where he ran 1:46.78 to win the 800 meter national title over Wes Ferguson.

And just when you thought that this Angelo State rookie couldn't get any better, he stepped onto the outdoor oval.

The Texas-based middle distance runner posted a D2 NCAA #2 all-time mark for the men's 800 meters with a time of 1:45.31 at the Texas Relays. In that race, El Bouchayby took down Olympian Bryce Hoppel for the overall win as well as a slew of top Division One stars, including 2023 D1 indoor national champion, Yusuf Bizimana.

El Bouchayby would later run 1:45.88 for 800 meters at the Bryan Clay Invitational, securing yet another marquee win in his still-young collegiate career. The Angelo State star is currently ranked at TSR #1 in our D2 top-25 outdoor track distance rankings.

And truthfully, he may be the best overall 800 meter runner that the NCAA has seen this season, regardless of division.

El Bouchayby's decision to transfer to Alabama admittedly comes as a surprise. The Moroccan middle distance standout is currently based in the Lone Star state of Texas and likely garnered interested from 800 meter powerhouses such as Texas and/or Texas A&M.

Other suggested landing destinations suggested internally by TSR contributors included Oklahoma State, Iowa State and Ole Miss.

It should be noted that The Stride Report was not familiar with where El Bouchayby was officially visiting or what schools he was interested in. The above programs were simply speculation.

Instead, El Bouchayby has chosen the Alabama men. And while the Crimson Tide don't necessarily have the same decorated history over 800 meters that other schools do, it would be inaccurate to suggest that they haven't had success with half-mile talents.

Just last spring, Alabama's Jacob Lamb, a walk-on transfer via the University of Montana from the summer of 2021, threw down a massive 1:46.51 personal best over 800 meters. Meanwhile, Eliud Kipsang, who is largely known as a true miler, has run 1:46.99 for the half-mile distance during his time in Tuscaloosa.

In the always-loaded Southeastern Conference (SEC), which is known for it's 800 meter prowess, adding someone of El Bouchayby's caliber is massive. The current Angelo State star gives Alabama a legitimate conference title favorite in the event, and even a D1 national title favorite, as soon as next year.

And for a program that is clearly gunning for a men's conference title, coming up just six points short of Arkansas at the 2022 SEC Outdoor Championships, El Bouchayby gets the Crimson Tide one step closer towards that goal.