Alabama Football: Recruiting Update past the Cookout, into Dead Period

It was quite a recruiting weekend for Alabama Football. The annual Champions Cookout pulled in top prospects from the 2023, 2024 and 2025 classes.

Starting today, college football is in its second Dead Period of the summer. The restrictions change recruiting efforts, but do not stop them.

There was plenty of buzz during the weekend with two potential flip targets in Tuscaloosa. One was 5-Star, Edge, Keon Keeley, rated by On3 as No. 1 at his position and the No. 3 overall player in the 2023 class. Some recruiting experts compare Keeley to Will Anderson Jr. Comparing any recruit to the best player in college football is a too-far stretch, but Keeley has tremendous potential to become an elite player.

At this point, Keeley has not de-committed from the Irish, but some Notre Dame fans are already reconciled he will join the Crimson Tide.

The other potential flip for the Crimson Tide is Ohio State commit, 4-Star, tight end Ty Lockwood. In the On3 Consensus Player rankings, Lockwood is the No. 9 tight end in the 2023 class and the No. 132 player overall. Lockwood, while not having great speed, has sure hands and is a consistently good blocker. Other programs pursuing Lockwood, along with the Buckeyes and the Crimson Tide are Vanderbilt, Penn State and LSU.

Should Alabama football fans be worried?

Should Alabama football fans be worried about the Tide losing a player to a flip? One of the Crimson Tide’s top commits, 5-Star, safety, Tony Mitchell was not in Tuscaloosa over the weekend. Instead, Mitchell traveled to College Station to take part in the A&M ‘Pool Party.’ Recruiting experts say the Alabama football staff was aware Mitchell was making the trip, and beyond that, there is no indication he is re-thinking his commitment to the Crimson Tide.

What troubles some Alabama football fans is a persistent (but unconfirmed) rumor the Aggies paid some recruits $5,000 to attend the weekend event. Joining Mitchell and others in College Station was the nation’s No. 2 prospect in the 2023 class. 5-Star quarterback, Malachi Nelson. Nelson is a Southern Cal commit. Over the last several weeks, multiple reports have stated USC has made a slow start putting together its NIL cooperative, leaving them vulnerable.

Moving beyond rumor to expectation, Alabama football stands to add a verbal commit on Monday night. He is 4-Star, defensive lineman, Hunter Osborne.

Next on the currently scheduled list for the Crimson Tide is 4-Star, offensive lineman, Miles McVay. McVay is scheduled to announce his college decision on Aug. 11.

After Osborne picks the Tide (hopefully) there is much work left to do in the 2023 defensive line class. Alabama must battle Oklahoma for Jordan Renaud and the competition for 5-Star, James Smith will not end anytime soon. Beyond Osborne, in terms of when, Kelby Collins would be the most likely. Florida and Georgia are the strongest competitors for Collins.