Alabama takes next step in trying to steal Tennessee LB legacy away from Josh Heupel

Kalen DeBoer earned his first Third Saturday in October rivalry win in 2025 when Alabama took down Tennessee in Tuscaloosa to avenge the 2024 loss on Rocky Top.

Now, DeBoer has his eyes set on a massive win over Josh Heupel's Volunteers on the recruiting trail.

4-star LB Kenneth Simon II, the son of former Tennessee LB Kenneth Simon, recently trimmed his list down to four schools, with Alabama and Tennessee making the cut alongside Texas A&M and Ole Miss.

Now, with a commitment nearing, Simon has locked in five critical spring visits, and that includes an upcoming trip to Tuscaloosa:

4-star LB Kenneth Simon II visiting Alabama this spring

Interestingly, Simon will visit both Georgia and Notre Dame this spring despite the Bulldogs and Fighting Irish not making his final list of four. Noticeably absent from his list of visits is Texas A&M, in another example of not putting too much stock into what teenagers say or do.

Simon is a Tennessee legacy and would be an incredible pull for DeBoer and the Alabama coaching staff if they can poach him from Knoxville.

At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, Simon has some positional versatility between linebacker and safety that could make him a real weapon in Kane Wommack's defensive scheme. The scheme fit is obvious, and Simon clearly sees that as he holds the Crimson Tide in high regard.

Most experts believe his recruitment will ultimately come down to Alabama and Tennessee, though the three other schools on his spring tour will certainly look to make a significant push for him.

You can expect the linebacker position to be a point of emphasis for Alabama in the 2027 recruiting class. Alabama only signed two LBs - 5-star Xavier Griffin and 3-star Zay Hall - during the 2026 cycle and will look to add some more young talent to the room for the future.