Alabama football makes the cut for 5-star 2026 ATH who is down to six finalists

The California-to-Alabama pipeline, particularly with defensive backs, has been very strong for Kalen DeBoer and his coaching staff as he enters his second year on the job. Alabama's two projected starting corners in 2025 - Domani Jackson and Zabien Brown - are both from the Golden State.

In the 2025 recruiting class, Alabama landed a pair of elite corners from California in Dijon Lee and Chuck McDonald. Lee has made waves immediately and looks like a player who is going to carve out an immediate role in Tuscaloosa.

That pipeline could be continuing as Alabama learned on Sunday night that it was one of six finalists for one of the top ATH/CB's in the 2026 recruting class.

5-star Brandon Arrington from Spring Valley, California announced the Crimson Tide as one of his finalists. Arrington is a 5-star prospect and the No. 8 overall player in the 247 composite rankings.

Along with Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M, Oregon, Penn State, and USC were named finalists.

Alabama has been trending with Brandon Arrington

Coming off of Alabama's Junior Day in February, Alabama started trending in Arrington's recruitment. According to On3's Steve Wiltfong last month, the Crimson Tide appeared to have positioned themselves as the favorite in Arrington's recruitment.

Arrington has played both ways in high school and could conceivably play either WR or CB in college, although the Crimson Tide appears to be focused on him playing corner at the next level.

Alabama DB coach Maurice Linguist has been the lead recruiter for Arrington and has done a great job making him feel like a priority. The Crimson Tide landed a great haul of DBs last year and appears to be on track to do so again.

One of Alabama's three commitments in the 2026 class so far is 4-star CB Zyan Gibson from Gadsden, Alabama.