3-star Nashville native Owen Cabell committed to Alabama in June after earning an offer from JaMarcus Shephard due to his standout performance during a Crimson Tide summer camp. Cabell seemed solid with that pledge up until the last minute, but notably never announced his recruitment was shut down.
A late push by hometown Vanderbilt, which just flipped 5-star QB Jared Curtis from Georgia on Tuesday, was enough to flip Cabell from his Alabama commitment.
Cabell flipped to Vanderbilt on Wednesday, and is the second WR to flip away from the Crimson Tide near the finish line. Alabama signed 5-star Cederian Morgan, but he may end up being the only WR signee of the day. Cabell has flipped, and 3-star Brian Williams is expected to follow suit.
BREAKING: Class of 2026 WR Owen Cabell has Flipped his Commitment from Alabama to Vanderbilt, he tells me for @rivals⁰⁰The 6’3 205 WR had been Committed to the Crimson Tide since June⁰⁰“Thank you God!! I’m staying home! Anchor Down ⚓️!”⁰⁰https://t.co/rtdGXZfe8q pic.twitter.com/Go9YiPeENC
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 3, 2025
Owen Cabell flipping to Vanderbilt leaves Alabama with a major need at WR
Alabama is still in the mix for 4-star Michigan State WR commitment Samson Gash, but he won't sign during the early period. He'll wait until the spring, and the Crimson Tide may not be willing to wait that long to fill what is now a significant need at WR.
With a flip by Cabell and an expected one by Williams, Alabama is left with just the 5-star in Morgan, who is an elite prospect, but the Crimson Tide will need more bodies at the position.
Germie Bernard is in his final season of eligibility and will be moving on to the NFL. Isaiah Horton could decide to test the NFL Draft waters as well. That's not to mention potential portal attrition with guys further down the depth chart - Cole Adams and Jalen Hale, for instance. Alabama could lose as many as four WRs on the current roster and only have one player lined up as a replacement right now.
That means Kalen DeBoer and the staff will likely be portal shopping in January when the window opens. There may yet be a surprise in the high school ranks, but the Transfer Portal seems to be the most likely scenario for Alabama to add a body or two.
There's plenty of young talent in the room that should be ready to step in and contribute next season, but it's a numbers game, and right now Alabama is looking pretty thin at a key position.