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Alabama football to get spring visit from elite, 4-star in-state edge rusher

4-star edge Jaquez Wilkes from Wadley, Alabama will give one of his six spring visits to in-state Alabama football.
ByJohn Mitchell|
Jan 28, 2025; Mobile, AL, USA; Alabama football head coach Kalen DeBoer visits the field during Senior Bowl practice for the American team at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images
Jan 28, 2025; Mobile, AL, USA; Alabama football head coach Kalen DeBoer visits the field during Senior Bowl practice for the American team at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images | Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

Alabama football continues to make a push for more of an in-state flavor to its 2026 recruiting class after struggling in the 2025 cycle for homegrown talent.

Of the three players currently committed to Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide for 2026, two of the three bring in-state roots. 4-star CB Zyan Gibson is from Gadsden, Alabama, and while 4-star edge Jamarion Matthews will technically be listed as from Georgia on recruiting services, he's originally from Harvest, Alabama and just transferred to Georgia for his senior year of high school.

On Thursday, an elite in-state prospect announced he would be taking a visit to the Crimson Tide this spring.

4-star Edge/ATH Jaquez Wilkes from Wadley, Alabama will be in Tuscaloosa for A-Day weekend on April 12th. Alabama will be the last visit Wilkes makes this spring, previously making trips to Miami, Florida State, Texas A&M, Georgia, and Auburn.

Wilkes is rated as a consensus 4-star prospect and the No. 68 overall player in the 247 composite rankings for 2026. He's the No. 6 Edge prospect and the No. 6 player in the state of Alabama.

Wilkes plays both ways for Wadley high school and was dominant in his junior season as both a linebacker and a running back. He projects as a defensive player at the next level and is likely being recruited by Alabama as either a Bandit (DE) or Wolf (OLB).

An uphill battle for Alabama for Wilkes

According to On3, it could be an uphill battle for the Crimson Tide in the battle to land Wilkes. Wilkes spoke highly of both Tennessee and Texas A&M in the past, and those two SEC programs were initially seen as the leaders for his recruitment.

Interestingly enough, the Vols are not one of the programs he will visit this spring. Alabama getting his last visit of the spring will give DeBoer and company a unique opportunity to have the final word and potentially push for his commitment.

Alabama is also in high contention for 5-star in-state Edge Anthony Jones. The Crimson Tide might be able to fill its class at the position without ever having to leave its own borders.

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