It’s the final week for spring official visits at Alabama, and it has brought more chaos than expected. Five-star wide receiver Tristen Keys was slated to arrive in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday, but his visit was canceled at the last minute. However, a new report may be a sign that Alabama’s pursuit of the Hattiesburg, Mississippi, product isn’t over.
At first, it appeared that Keys, an LSU commit, decided not to show up, but after the No. 3 overall recruit in the 2026 class refuted those reports and clarified that Alabama was the one that called off his trip, it left many wondering what Kalen DeBoer and his staff were doing.
With just seven commitments, Alabama’s 2026 recruiting class ranks 44th in the country, well behind its primary SEC competitors. DeBoer constructed an elite class in the 2025 cycle, which finished ranked No. 3 in the nation, but the Keys debacle reignited fears about the Tide’s financial situation heading into the revenue sharing era, and coming off of the program’s first season without double-digit wins since Nick Saban first arrived in 2007.
This latest report might assuage some of those concerns as Keys told RecruitsBama that the Alabama staff wants him to visit during the football season.
Note: Tristen Keys tells me the Alabama staff wants him to visit during the football season 👀 https://t.co/YJC0tMxDqm
— Recruits Bama (@RecruitsBama) June 17, 2025
Kalen DeBoer’s pursuit of Tristen Keys may not be over
All signs point to Keys' recruitment coming down to LSU and Tennessee, after a very strong showing on his official visit to Knoxville. But if he’s not shutting down his recruitment after taking his official visits this spring, then there is still time for the Tide to make up precious ground.
In just one season, DeBoer has already proven that he’s capable of leading a talented young receiver to success in the SEC. Ryan Williams led the Tide in 2024 with 48 catches for 865 yards as a 17-year-old true freshman. That could be the blueprint for Keys, especially with former five-star quarterback Keelon Russell likely taking over the starting job by the time he arrives in 2025.
Alabama needed some positive news on the recruiting trail, and while this isn’t as good as Keys taking his official visit would have been, it could help salvage the situation and keep the Tide in the running for the top wide receiver in the 2026 class.