Breaking: In a huge recruiting coup, Boom Alabama acquires a highly regarded 5-star defensive lineman who is ranked as the nation’s top defensive lineman.

Breaking: In a huge recruiting coup, Boom Alabama acquires a highly regarded 5-star defensive lineman who is ranked as the nation’s top defensive lineman.

Alabama football making a significant in-state push for 2026 recruiting class

After a dismal cycle in the state, Kalen DeBoer and Alabama football are making a huge effort for in-state recruits in the 2026 cycle.

Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer observes a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Oklahoma prevailed 24–3.

Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer observes a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Oklahoma won 24-3. | BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Hugh Freeze took advantage of the fact that Kalen DeBoer was starting behind the eight ball with a large number of prospects in Alabama’s football recruiting class of 2025 in order to secure the best players in the state.

Auburn signed eight of Alabama’s top ten players, based on the 247 composite rankings. The other two left the state completely, one signed with Oregon and the other Ohio State.

In the end, Alabama assembled its class with just two Alabama-born players: 3-star Mal Waldrep and 4-star offensive tackle Micah DeBose.

Because of the coaching change in Tuscaloosa, Freeze was in a unique position to take advantage of it, and he did. All of the major recruiting firms still placed Alabama’s recruiting class higher than Auburn’s.

However, Kalen DeBoer and general manager Courtney Morgan are aware that they must do better in the state going forward. Over the past week, DeBoer and his team have been traveling, and it’s clear that they have been concentrating on beginning to assemble the 2026 class

026 class has only one commitment from Alabama thus far, but it is one of the top players in the state this cycle. In December, Zyan Gibson, a 4-star CB, committed to Alabama. According to 247, Gibson is one of seven players in the state’s Top 100 for 2026.

Alabama will recruit like a national program. Because of the high winning percentage and the large number of NFL players produced in Tuscaloosa, Nick Saban’s dynasty has made the Crimson Tide a popular travel destination nationwide.

However, DeBoer aims to change the perception of this deep class in-state. The two in-state 2026 awards are DE Anthony Jones of Mobile and WR Cederian Morgan of Alexander City, both of whom are projected to be five-star players in the future.

Alabama will vigorously advocate for both. DL Vodney Cleveland of Birmingham, who was once committed to Alabama but decommitted in December, is ranked third in the state and is still considering the Crimson Tide.

In the 2026 cycle, Auburn supporters are certain that they will once again dominate in-state recruitment. I think they are wrong. While demonstrating that this state is still crimson, DeBoer and his crew demonstrated that they could recruit with the heavyweights in 2025. The 2026 cycle will be no different.

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