In-state recruiting has been a major topic of conversation during the Kalen DeBoer era. From his first full class in 2025, where Auburn dominated despite Alabama signing a better overall class, to last season when the Crimson Tide bounced back with an excellent haul of top prospects in-state, to the 2027 cycle that has been more like 2025, but without the out-of-state excellence to make up for it.
A common misconception is that Nick Saban never missed out on the best in-state prospects. As you'll see from the list below, that simply isn't true.
While DeBoer has had a couple that stings already, Saban had his fair share as well.
Let's take a look back at the biggest in-state recruiting misses of the last decade (2017 and on).
5 Alabama high school stars who should have been wearing Crimson
Anthony "Tank" Jones is an incoming freshman for Oregon this year, so it remains to be seen just how badly this recruiting miss will sting. But he finished as the No. 2 recruit in the state of Alabama in the 2026 cycle, and his decision to head out west to Oregon prevented DeBoer from a truly dominant in-state run.
Alabama landed the other three of the top four in RB EJ Crowell, WR Cederian Morgan, and CB Zyan Gibson. A clean sweep was within the Tide's grasp, but Jones decided on the Ducks instead.
He was a 5-star recruit and likely to make a quick impact for Dan Lanning in Eugene.
Alabama was not among the finalists for 5-star WR George Pickens during the 2019 cycle. Auburn was considered a heavy favorite for him, but he ultimately decided on Georgia. It might not have been until the 2021 season that Pickens could have made a sizeable impact for the Crimson Tide, considering the talent level at the WR position when he would have first walked on campus, but he might have been the difference for Alabama in their rematch against Georgia with the 2021 National Championship on the line.
With injuries to both Jameson Williams and John Metchie, Alabama had little left at the WR position against Georgia in the rematch. With Pickens, things would have obviously been different.
Pickens also would have elevated the 2020 offense, already one of the best in the history of the sport, to a whole new level. Imagine adding him to a group that already featured Heisman winner DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, and John Metchie. Good luck!
Alabama got to experience the sting of missing out on Cam Coleman twice.
Not only did the 5-star WR choose Auburn during the 2024 recruiting cycle, but he ultimately chose Texas over Alabama in the Transfer Portal this past offseason. There was optimism that Alabama would land Coleman in the portal, but the Longhorns flexed their financial muscles.
Despite Coleman choosing Auburn out of high school, his performance in the Iron Bowl last November had a direct impact on Alabama winning. We salute you for that.
No in-state recruiting miss directly bit Alabama in the butt more than Justyn Ross. Ross was a 4-star recruit in the 2018 class, and it's hard to blame him for picking Clemson over Alabama, considering the level of talent the Crimson Tide had at the position at the time.
Alabama signed a trio of 5-stars in the 2017 class in Jerry Jeudy, DeVonta Smith, and Henry Ruggs III. They also landed 5-star Jaylen Waddle in the 2018 cycle. Ross saw a greater opportunity at Clemson, and he took it.
And then he went off against his in-state school in the National Championship Game that season.
In one of the most humiliating defeats of the Saban era, Ross lit up Alabama's secondary to the tune of six catches for 153 yards and a touchdown as Clemson rolled to a 44-16 win.
Losing Peter Woods to Clemson in the 2023 cycle still stings. Especially considering Alabama's struggles on the defensive line in recent seasons.
Woods made an immediate impact for Dabo Swinney at Clemson, putting together an impressive three-year run for the Tigers before being taken by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Woods would have been a real difference maker for Alabama up front over the past three seasons.
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