Alabama makes the final cut for 5-star CB Kalen DeBoer keeps prioritizing

It's not going to be easy to pull 5-star CB John Meredith, the No. 2 overall player in the 247 composite, out of the state of Texas. Texas A&M has long been viewed as the prohibitive favorite to land the North Crowley product.

But if Alabama misses out on Meredith, it won't be out of a lack of effort from Kalen DeBoer and his staff on the recruiting trail.

The Crimson Tide has made Meredith a priority and is very much right in the thick of his recruitment. Most experts agree that Alabama is the biggest threat to the Aggies in Meredith's recruitment.

On Tuesday, Meredith narrowed his list of suitors down to six schools. Alabama, along with Texas A&M, unsurprisingly made the cut. As did Notre Dame, Ohio State, Texas, and Miami:

Alabama one of six schools still in the hunt for 5-star CB John Meredith III

Meredith visited Alabama in the fall and was most recently in Tuscaloosa for the Tide's Junior Day. Alabama will have the first crack at his official visit tour this summer, hosting the Texas native on the weekend of May 29th on what might be the biggest recruiting weekend of the summer for DeBoer and company.

Meredith fits the mold of bigger corners that Alabama has coveted with Kane Wommack as the DC and Maurice Linguist coaching the DBs. He's a listed 6-foot-2, and could be the latest in a long line of freshmen to make an immediate impact in the defensive backfield in Tuscaloosa.

Both Zabien Brown and Dijon Lee earned starting roles as freshmen the last two seasons at corner, and Alabama has a few players who could do that this season. Both 5-star Jorden Edmonds and 4-star Zyan Gibson are talented cornerbacks capable of early playing time, and 5-star safety Jireh Edwards has the look of an early contributor.

Alabama's willingness to get freshmen who earn a spot on the field early has to be appealing for Meredith, and could be one of the big selling points to steal him away from Texas A&M.