Alabama is a finalist for a 5-star DB who was recently predicted to land elsewhere

Alabama is building another elite defensive back class in 2026. With commitments already in the bag from two Top 100 prospects at CB, 5-star Jorden Edmonds and 4-star Zyan Gibson, the Crimson Tide is looking to add an elite safety or two to join them.

Alabama picked up a recent prediction to land 5-star Jireh Edwards, and they remain in contention for 5-star Jett Washington, who named the Crimson Tide one of his three finalists on Tuesday night, joining Oregon and USC.

Alabama hosted Washington on an official visit at the end of May, and seemingly made a big impression on the Las Vegas native.

Pulling Washington out of the west coast will be difficult, but if he's going to leave, it'll be to come to Tuscaloosa. Washington is the nephew of the late, great Kobe Bryant and a consensus 5-star in the 2026 class.

Washington has begun trending away from Alabama

Despite Kalen DeBoer and company's best efforts, Washington is now trending toward Oregon. On3's Steve Wiltfong logged an official prediction earlier in the week, before Washington named his three finalists, for the elite defensive back to end up in Oregon's class.

That's not much of a surprise after Alabama picked up a prediction for 5-star Jireh Edwards. It was a nice dream for the Crimson Tide to potentially land both in this class, but it was never really realistic.

Alabama wanted both, but would settle for one of the two.

Tide DB coach Maurice Linguist continues to show he is one of the top recruiters and assistant coaches in the country. Alabama signed arguably the best group of defensive backs in the 2025 class and looks to be in position to repeat that in this cycle.

Alabama has elite talent in the DB room as is, and that doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon.

With Edmonds and Gibson already committed, and a prediction in for Edwards to land in Tuscaloosa, that trio would make up an impressive group in the secondary if nobody else joined. But Alabama is pushing for others, including current Georgia Tech commit Jaedyn Terry.

Maybe Alabama makes a late push for Washington. Maybe not. Regardless, Alabama remains in a good position in this class at the position, and that won't change as long as Linguist is coaching in Tuscaloosa.