4-star CB leaves Kalen DeBoer and Alabama out in the cold with commitment to Oregon

Alabama got the bad news it had unfortunately been expecting on Wednesday with one of its top targets.

4-star CB Hayden Stepp, whom Alabama was one time considered the heavy favorite to land, announced his commitment to Oregon:

Stepp, a Top 50 overall recruit out of Las Vegas, had been trending away from Alabama in recent weeks. He took an official visit to the Crimson Tide at the end of May, and Kalen DeBoer and company looked to be in good shape. But Stepp continued to take visits, found his way to Eugene, and things changed drastically.

It's another swing-and-miss for the Crimson Tide in the 2027 recruiting class, which has been a frustrating cycle for fans who are used to Alabama dominance on the trail. It's also another frustrating head-to-head recruiting loss to Dan Lanning and Oregon, who continue to flex their muscles and much deeper pockets.

4-star CB Hayden Stepp a frustrating - but not devastating - recruiting loss for Alabama

If there's one position group Alabama fans should have little concern about moving forward, it's the secondary. DeBoer, DC Kane Wommack, and DBs coach Maurice Linguist have done exceptional work accumulating talent on the back end.

This season's projected starters at CB are a pair of former 5-star recruits in Zabien Brown and Dijon Lee. One of Alabama's top backups is 5-star freshman Jorden Edmonds. There's also former blue chippers like Zyan Gibson and Chuck McDonald filling out the depth chart, along with intriguing Mercer transfer Carmelo O'Neal.

Alabama also landed an under-the-radar option in 3-star Darrius White, who is a player who will likely shoot up the recruiting rankings during his senior season. White was a priority for Linguist and the Tide staff from the jump, regardless of what happened with Stepp.

Where Alabama goes from here with Stepp picking Oregon remains to be seen. CB isn't a major need, but adding another body to the room can't hurt.

Perhaps it's the JUCO ranks, where Alabama recently hosted a visit from junior college corner Alius Mayo. He certainly fits the bill of a Linguist DB, standing at 6-foot-4.

There's a long way between now and December's early signing period. The Crimson Tide will have other options that emerge from standout senior seasons. We saw it happen last year with players like 4-star OT Jared Doughty, who was on nobody's radar this time last year.

Alabama won't take a big class, but DeBoer and his staff will be on the lookout for potential impact players who emerge in the coming months.

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