Kalen DeBoer and Alabama pulled off a recruiting coup on Wednesday, flipping 3-star in-state WR Cedrick Simmons away from rival Auburn. Simmons committed to the Tigers in June, but the Crimson Tide turned up the heat recently and landed the star from Selma.
Simmons produced over 2100 receiving yards as a junior last season, which led all receivers in the state. He's a big play waiting to happen, and DeBoer and Grubb will find creative ways to use him on offense.
Simmons' flip is a nice piece of momentum for Alabama. Perhaps it will be the beginning of flip season. With many of the Crimson Tide's top targets off the board, DeBoer and his staff could be looking for more flips in the coming months.
5 potential flip targets to watch for Alabama in the 2027 class
Alabama is still in pursuit of a linebacker in the 2027 class. They previously had 4-star Kenneth Simon II committed, but the Tennessee legacy recruit ultimately flipped to the Volunteers, leaving the Crimson Tide with a need in the middle.
Ayden Coleman was a player they were pursuing when Simon was still committed. Alabama offered Coleman in early June after he camped in Tuscaloosa. He committed to Mississippi State the next week after a visit to Starkville, but he still took his official visit to Alabama the following week.
Alabama could continue working on Coleman in the coming months to try to flip him away from the Bulldogs.
Speaking of linebackers, Alabama could potentially double-dip on flipping prospects committed to Auburn with 4-star in-state LB Isaac McNeil.
Alabama was a finalist in McNeil's recruitment the first go-around, but he ultimately chose Auburn. The Crimson Tide didn't prioritize McNeil then. Instead, they focused on Simon, which proved to be a mistake after he flipped to Tennessee.
Perhaps DeBoer and the Crimson Tide will circle back to McNeil with a full-court press between now and December's early signing period.
Alabama lost out in the recruitment of in-state safety Junior Tu'upo a few weeks ago. Texas swooped in and landed him instead. Safety isn't a major priority for the Crimson Tide in this class, but losing out on an in-state recruit to the Longhorns still stings.
This one doesn't feel over, however, especially considering that Tu'upo is good friends and teammates with Alabama QB commit Trent Seaborn, who will undoubtedly remain in his ear between now and December.
This one is contingent on what happens on Friday with 5-star Monshun Sales. Alabama is still in pursuit, and will continue to be regardless, but it seems likely that Sales will be committing to either Texas or Indiana.
It's possible that DeBoer won't look for another receiver after flipping Simmons. They already landed 4-star Osani Gayles, and taking a third receiver could be a Sales-or-nothing approach.
But Brown's stock has soared recently, and he was a player the Crimson Tide liked as far back as last fall. Alabama has kept him warm, and they could ramp up their pursuit if Sales picks the Hoosiers or Longhorns on Friday as expected.
For the majority of his recruitment, Alabama was considered the massive favorite for 4-star defensive lineman Mitchell Turner. The momentum shifted after his visit to Oxford, and Turner ultimately decided to commit to the in-state Rebels. This one might not be over, though.
Alabama DL coach Freddie Roach built an early relationship with Turner. The Crimson Tide was his first Power Four offer, and that early belief was a big reason why Alabama was considered the favorite for so long. Roach isn't going to stop his pursuit of Turner until the ink dries on the paper.
Flipping him from Ole Miss won't be easy, but that doesn't mean Alabama won't try.
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