Enjoy the last recruiting weekend of the summer because after that, when the dead period begins, we're really going to feel the offseason kick in as we count down to kickoff. Here's Alabama news from Wednesday and Thursday of this week.
Kalen DeBoer and Alabama miss out on Cincere Johnson and Jett Washington
Finishing as runner-up in most things is nothing to sneeze at. It means absolutely nothing in recruiting.
That's where Kalen DeBoer and Alabama found themselves on Thursday, finishing runner-up in the recruitment of blue chippers Cincere Johnson and Jett Washington.
Johnson, a 4-star LB from Ohio, committed to his home-state Buckeyes over the Crimson Tide.
Washington, a 5-star safety from Las Vegas, chose Oregon over Alabama.
Neither was unpredictable. It was an unenviable task to try and pull Johnson out of Ohio State's neighborhood, but you can't blame the staff for trying after they pulled Justin Hill from the Buckeyes' backyard in the 2025 cycle.
Washington had been trending to Oregon, so his decision to commit to the Ducks on Thursday night wasn't surprising, either. Alabama has been trending with another 5-star safety in Jireh Edwards from Maryland.
Brighter days are ahead, including a loaded crop of official visitors this weekend, but Thursday wasn't all that fun if you're an Alabama fan.
Legendary Alabama LB C.J. Mosley announces his retirement
After 11 seasons in the NFL, legendary Alabama LB C.J. Mosley announced his retirement on Thursday. He split his career with the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets, where he was a five-time Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro selection.
Mosley had a legendary run in Tuscaloosa. He was a two-time All-American, Butkus Award winner, and SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. Mosley was part of two Crimson Tide teams that won the BCS National Championship in 2011 and 2012.
Mosley was drafted by the Ravens with the 17th pick in the 2014 draft, spending the first five seasons of his career in Baltimore. He signed as a free-agent with the Jets in 2019, where he spent the last six seasons of his career.
Alabama basketball's SEC opponents announced
The SEC announced the men's basketball conference opponents for the 2025-26 college basketball season on Wednesday. For Alabama, it will be another challenging league schedule, just like it is every year in the top basketball conference in the land.
Alabama will play Auburn, Tennessee, and Mississippi State twice next season, playing every other league team once. While Alabama will have to go on the road to play defending National Champion Florida, it does draw Kentucky, Arkansas, Texas, and Texas A&M at Coleman Coliseum.