Stockpiling No. 1 recruiting classes is over for Alabama Football. Beginning with Alabama's 2011 signing class and going through the 2023 class, according to the 247Sports Composite, the Crimson Tide had the No. 1 class 10 out of 13 times. Not only will Kalen DeBoer never be able to match that recruiting success, neither would Nick Saban if he was still coaching. No college football program will ever match the recruiting success of Nick Saban in that glorious run that produced five National Championships.
On Friday night, Nick Saban indirectly but clearly explained why roster-building is so different now. Responding to a supposed joke that Saban bought players at Alabama, he said he cheated by developing players. Programs developing players has not ended, but it has drastically changed because of the free-agency status of transfer rules and NIL. What Saban did at Alabama, he could not do now and the result is the revolving doors of rosters that must often fill gaps at key positions with one-season or two-season transfers.
Alabama Football did well in landing the 2024 No.2 class. But three of the 27 signees transferred out after Saban's retirement, including 5-star QB signee Julian Sayin. A fourth; Caleb Odom transferred to Ole Miss before completing his freshman season. The situation now is so different than it was just five seasons ago, it is possible Alabama has seen its last five-season major contributor in the departing Malachi Moore.
Alabama football fans can debate Kalen DeBoer's success in the current 9-3 season. Not worthy of debate is that had DeBoer not been successful with so many key Transfer Portal additions, the 2024 season could have been an unquestioned disaster.
The Alabama Crimson Tide has another strong recruiting class; currently No. 2 per 247Sports and On3. Several of the 2025 signees could become key contributors next season. More essential to 2025 success is how well Kalen DeBoer fares in the Transfer Portal. Early success and future expected success point to another roster upgrade through transfer additions. But unlike the Saban years, a frustrating number of 2025 players can be expected to exit for other teams in the 2026 season.
Alabama Football 2026 Recruiting Class
Alabama football fans are fretting over the 2026 class of commits now standing at zero commits. Alabama has had two Top 100, 4-stars and two 3-stars decommit from the 2026 class. It is too soon for panic, but some Crimson Tide fans are concerned some prospects are taking a wait-and-see approach to choosing Alabama.