While Kalen DeBoer and Alabama's primary recruiting focus has been on the 2028 class at this point, they are still looking to do some work on the margins in the 2027 cycle. One area they would love to add another body is up front on the defensive line, if the right guy becomes available.
Alabama's top target on the DL for the class was 4-star Mississippi native Mitchell Turner, but he opted to stay in-state with Ole Miss instead. The Crimson Tide's pivot could come from another player in the Magnolia State with a whole lot of potential.
Unranked defensive lineman Jeremiah Mark, a 6-foot-5, 270-pounder from Picayune - the same high school that Tide freshman DL Nolan Wilson played at - picked up an offer from Alabama late last week. It was his third Power Four offer, joining Miami and Ole Miss, which offered him at the end of July.
Rising 2027 DL Jeremiah Mark talks new offer from Alabama, sets multiple visits this season
— Blake Byler (@blakebyler45) August 9, 2026
"It was a surreal moment. We’d been talking for two or three weeks. I really wasn’t expecting it to happen that quick."https://t.co/DOmbkkrly4 (On3+) pic.twitter.com/LH1PzSfNPs
Alabama offers fast-rising DL Jeremiah Mark from Picayune, MS
It might seem curious why a player with that size has flown under the radar for this long in the recruiting cycle, but that's about to change with the recent offers he's picked up.
As 247's Brett Greenberg explained after Mark was offered by Alabama, Mark hasn't played football since his freshman season of high school because he was focused on basketball instead. He's back on the field now, and he's opened a lot of eyes already. His recruitment is about to pick up a lot of steam in the coming months.
Mark scheduled a pair of gameday visits with Alabama for this fall. He'll be in town for the season opener against East Carolina on September 5th, returning in October for the highly anticipated game against Georgia. Scheduling two visits should show you how serious Mark is about the offer from Alabama.
Mark could be a hidden gem that really complements Alabama's smaller 2027 class. He's going to be raw after not playing competitive football the last two seasons, but the tools are there.
Alabama holds a commitment from only one true interior defensive lineman in this class so far: 3-star Avrian Pauley from Mobile. They also have a pair of EDGE commitments with Tyler Younger and Jeremiah Beverly.
Defensive line wasn't a huge priority in this class after Kalen DeBoer and company signed a crop of DL that they really liked in the 2026 cycle. Jamarion Matthews, Nolan Wilson, Corey Howard, Mhari Johnson, and Malique Freeman are all expected to make an impact sooner or later in Tuscaloosa.
Uncovering a game like Mark late in the cycle could be a perfect addition, however. He'd have plenty of time to develop in Tuscaloosa with little pressure to contribute immediately.
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