After landing the No. 3 recruiting class in the country for 2025, Kalen DeBoer has been ice cold on the recruiting trail for 2026. Midway through June, the Tide still sit with just six commitments and the 54th-ranked class in the country. With pressure mounting, not just to make the College Football Playoff this year, but to prove that he can build a roster that can consistently compete at the top of the SEC, DeBoer and his staff need to pull out all the stops for their Tuesday official visit with LSU commit Tristen Keys.
The five-star wide receiver committed to the Tigers in March, but lately he’s been softening as he navigates his official visits this spring. The Miami Hurricanes appeared to be surging in his recruitment after his May 30 visit to Coral Gables, and Tennessee picked up major momentum this weekend. If Alabama could be the program to close the deal and flip the No. 3 overall player in the 2026 class coming out of his trip to Tuscaloosa on Tuesday, it would go a long way to placating a restless fanbase and jumpstarting the stalled 2026 recruiting class.
5-star WR Tristen Keys visiting Tuscaloosa on Tuesday
Alabama will be Keys’ fifth official visit as he is set to join two three-star defensive linemen, Preston Carey and Tyson Bacon, on campus on Tuesday. The Hattiesburg, Mississippi, product won’t be easy to sway, but LSU head coach Brian Kelly has proven to be vulnerable when it comes to holding onto his five-star commits.
Five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood was the prize of the 2025 recruiting class, and after spending most of the cycle committed to the Tigers, he ultimately signed with Michigan. Underwood’s flip ramped up speculation that Kelly could be on the hot seat in Baton Rouge, and calls for Kelly’s job will only amplify if DeBoer or another coach is able to pry Keys away from him.
Alabama’s 2026 class currently features just two offensive players, both offensive linemen. While Ryan Williams is one of the best young wide receivers in the country, he’ll only be at Alabama for two more seasons before inevitably heading off to the NFL. DeBoer brought in five-star QB Keelon Russell in 2025, and though Russell will likely sit behind Ty Simpson this season, adding weapons to support him in 2026 and beyond needs to be a top priority at Alabama. Keys is the best weapon available.
There will be commitments coming for Alabama toward the end of the month when many of the program’s top targets have set their commitment date, but none would be as significant as flipping the No. 1 receiver in the country from an arch rival and nothing would ease even the most restless Alabama fan’s concerns like daydreams of Keelon Russell throwing touchdowns to Tristen Keys. So, needless to say, Tuesday is an important one for the Tide.