Alabama is still big-game hunting for star power at WR in the 2027 recruiting class with both Monshun Sales and Osani Gayles at the top of the board for Kalen DeBoer and company. But they are also looking to supplement the class with some under-the-radar, inexpensive options that could ultimately be steals down the road.
3-star WR Cedrick Simmons is chief among them.
Simmons may only be rated as a 3-star receiver in the 247 composite - and the No. 627 overall player - but you won't find many players across the country who can match the level of production Simmons put up for Southside High School in Selma as a junior last season.
To call them video game-esque might be putting it mildly.
Simmons led the state of Alabama in receiving yards last season, producing an obscene 2,192 yards and 20 touchdowns. He's a bit undersized at 5-foot-9 and 190 pounds, but he's a blur with the ball in his hands. And if those numbers weren't enough, he started on defense as well and added seven interceptions for good measure.
Simmons took his official visit to Tuscaloosa over the weekend, and the Crimson Tide is the leader in his recruitment, but a looming visit to Auburn this weekend presents one final hurdle for DeBoer and company to get through to land the in-state star.
Alabama must survive Cedrick Simmons' weekend trip to Auburn to land the in-state star WR
Simmons seems geniunely excited about the opportunity to play for Alabama, as he shared in a recent intervie with 247's Brett Greenberg following his visit.
"I got to learn a lot about the program that they run over there," Simmons said. "They really opened my eyes. That (photoshoot) was awesome. Thinking that I have a chance to put those colors on and represent my last name on the back of that jersey, that was the best feeling.
Simmons will reportedly make his decision shortly after his trip to Auburn. That will line up pretty closely with the decision timeline for Gayles, who is slated to make his announcement on June 27th amid significant smoke connecting him with the Crimson Tide.
So DeBoer and his staff could be set up for a double dip of good news at WR for the 2027 class in the week and a half.
That won't stop their pursuit of Sales, who remains Alabama's top overall target in this recruiting cycle, regardless of position. But landing both Gayles and Simmons would significantly lessen the blow if Sales ultimately decides to go elsewhere.
While Simmons will be on the Plains visiting Auburn, Alabama will be hosting 3-star Florida WR Kyren Caldwell, who could be the backup plan for Simmons if he chooses to end up elsewhere. Caldwell is rated a bit higher than Simmons, but doesn't have the same level of production to his name as Simmons, though not many do.
It will be interesting to see what DeBoer and Courtney Morgan decide to do if Caldwell arrives in Tuscaloosa ready to commit while Simmons is on his Auburn visit. It could be a delicate balancing act for the Tide's staff.
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