June 26, 2025 | Tuscaloosa, AL
So much for the rebuild.
So much for the post-Saban fall-off.
So much for Alabama fading into the shadows of college football.
Because while the rest of the country has been busy debating whether the dynasty died when Nick Saban retired, Alabama’s recruiting department has quietly been doing what it’s always done best:
Loading the chamber.
And now? It’s not quiet anymore.
As of today, the Crimson Tide are roaring toward the No. 1 class in America for 2026—again—and if current trends continue, Kalen DeBoer could end up doing the unthinkable: out-recruiting the ghost of Saban himself.
FROM UNCERTAIN TO UNSTOPPABLE: The DeBoer Era Strikes Gold
Let’s rewind just six months. When DeBoer took over in January 2024, the question wasn’t whether he could win—it was whether he could recruit.
SEC doubters said he lacked southern roots. Said he wouldn’t connect with blue-chip kids from Georgia, Texas, and Louisiana. Said he wouldn’t keep Alabama at the table with Georgia, Ohio State, and Texas.
Well, look again.
Because DeBoer’s staff has landed 10 commitments in June alone, including:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ QB Jett Thomalla (WA): The top-rated quarterback in the Pacific Northwest and a dual-threat leader with elite arm talent.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ OL Sam Utu (HI): A Samoan-born powerhouse with the frame of an NFL guard and the feet of a tight end.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ WR Tristan Callahan (AL): The fastest rising wideout in the Southeast—clocked a 10.4 100-meter this spring.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ LB Caden Weeks (FL): A heat-seeking missile out of Tampa who plays like Reuben Foster but talks like a coach.
And that’s before the big names drop.
UPCOMING DECISIONS THAT COULD SEAL THE DEAL
Get your calendars out. The next seven days could decide everything.
June 26 — RB Ezavier Crowell (GA): Alabama is the heavy favorite after a recent OV turned into a family-style dinner with players and coaches.
June 29 — LB Xavier Griffin (TX): Texas and Oklahoma want him, but Griffin left Tuscaloosa saying, “That felt like home.”
July 2 — WR Cederian Morgan (AL): The top uncommitted player in the state. Alabama has momentum—and pressure.
If the Tide lands two out of three?
They’re projected to pass Georgia and Ohio State for No. 1 in the On3 and 247 composite rankings.
WHAT’S WORKING: RELATIONSHIP OVER REPUTATION
Here’s what’s different—and deadly.
Saban was the gold standard of structure. Everything was efficient. Military. Machine-like.
DeBoer? He’s surgical—but human.
He’s building this class through relationships. He’s giving players a vision for life after football. His staff has adapted to NIL, leaned into development, and sold a story, not just a logo.
“Coach DeBoer made it personal,” said QB Jett Thomalla. “He didn’t talk to me like a recruit. He talked to me like a man.”
THE TRANSFER PORTAL + HIGH SCHOOL BLEND
What’s genius is how Alabama is blending elite high school talent with targeted transfer pieces.
They’re not over-relying on portal guys. They’re using it as a supplement—not a substitute.
In 2024, they plugged holes with 5 key transfers. Now, with this rising class, they’re building a foundation.
This isn’t a short-term patch job. It’s a long-term reset.
WHAT RECRUITS ARE SAYING
The buzz from the trail is loud—and growing.
“I expected Alabama to slow down. But they’re more aggressive than ever.” — 5⭐️ DL prospect visiting in July
“They’ve got NFL dudes walking around campus who still help at practice. That’s crazy.” — 4⭐️ CB from Florida
“They made me feel like I was already family. You don’t fake that.” — 2026 TE commit
CREDIT THE STAFF — AND THE BLUEPRINT
Director of Recruiting Travaris Robinson has become DeBoer’s ace.
Robinson’s ability to connect with Southern talent, especially in Georgia and Alabama, has kept the Crimson Tide pipeline open and flowing.
Pair that with offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan’s West Coast reach, and Alabama is no longer just dominating the South. They’re going national again.
Hawaii, Nevada, Michigan, Florida and Alabama.
They’re putting pins in every corner of the country—and winning the battles that matter.
WHAT THIS CLASS COULD BECOME
If Alabama closes strong, here’s what this class may include:
Top-3 QB nationally
Two 4⭐️ OL with NFL measurables
A hybrid EDGE/OLB with 10-sack potential by year two
Four WRs with verified 4.4 or better speed
A 6-foot-2 corner with 35-inch arms and elite vertical
That’s a national championship core.
That’s what Georgia built in 2021.
That’s what Alabama’s building right now.
️ The End of the Beginning
For a year, rivals mocked Alabama. Claimed the throne had been vacated. Called it the end of an era.
But as of June 2025, the Tide are rising. The classes are stacking. The fear is returning.
DeBoer’s not just managing the post-Saban era—he’s reloading it with a quiet fire that’s catching faster than anyone expected.
“We’re not chasing No. 1,” DeBoer told local media”, “We’re chasing the right guys.”
But if the right guys just happen to make you No. 1 again?Well… maybe this dynasty never stopped.
Maybe it just evolved.
