Alabama has a short window of time to capitalize on LSU's firing of Brian Kelly, and the Crimson Tide are looking to do just that with their latest visitor locked in for this week’s matchup with the Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
2027 five-star tight end Ahmad Hudson, a Ruston, Louisiana native, was just added to the list of visitors for Week 11. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound junior is the No. 15 player in the country according to 247Sports Composite Rankings, the No. 1 tight end, and the No. 2 player in the state of Louisiana.
Just added the No. 1 tight end in the class of 2027, five-star Ahmad Hudson, to the @AlabamaFTBL visitor list for the LSU game.
— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) November 3, 2025
VIP https://t.co/ZL5x1o5iDB @BrettGreenberg_ @247Sports 🤝 @AhmadHudson9 https://t.co/e0gGJaZbvB pic.twitter.com/0VjYlUTLQE
Kalen DeBoer can close the deal with top Louisiana recruits as LSU searches for Brian Kelly’s replacement
In many ways, LSU is a program that recruits itself, especially in-state. Louisiana high school football players were raised to wear the purple and gold, so it isn’t easy to make inroads. However, Nick Saban was able to do it effectively during his years in Tuscaloosa, and now Kalen DeBoer and Courtney Morgan have the perfect opportunity to establish a major foothold.
Hudson would be a massive get for the Crimson Tide. He’s a rare athlete for his size who will be a contest catch machine at the next level, playing as a supersized receiver in the red zone. Though he won’t just be useful inside the 20-yard line. Hudson projects as an every-down difference maker, the type of pass catcher that DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb find creative ways to get involved.
While he’s a priority recruit, Hudson isn’t the only top prospect from Louisiana that Alabama is looking to close the deal with, while the Tigers have a head coaching vacancy. The No. 1 QB in the 2027 class, Elijah Haven, is a Baton Rouge native and was already in Tuscaloosa for a gameday visit this season.
Haven has been trending toward Alabama, and a resounding win for the Crimson Tide on Saturday night could push Hudson and other visitors like five-star offensive lineman Ismael Camara closer to a commitment.
Alabama has been recruiting at an elite level under DeBoer and Morgan, and now two of its biggest rivals, LSU and Auburn, have head coaching vacancies that may swing even more talent in their direction. With seven straight wins, everything seems to be coming up Crimson Tide.