Kalen DeBoer led Alabama to an elite recruiting class in the 2025 cycle, immediately answering pressing questions about his ability to compete on the trail against SEC heavyweights. But one question lingered heading into the 2026 class: Can DeBoer continue to build his classes with strictly out-of-state players, allowing Hugh Freeze and Auburn to lock down Alabama?
Alabama objectively signed a better class than Auburn last year, but Freeze could hang his hat on the fact that the Tigers signed eight of the top 10 players in the state of Alabama. DeBoer and the Tide didn't sign any of the top 10, and only ended up with two players from the state in its ballyhooed 2025 class.
It has been obvious since the staff turned their attention to the 2026 cycle that things would be different. DeBoer and GM Courtney Morgan have made locking down the state a top priority. Freeze took advantage of the Alabama staff's lack of relationships with local coaches, players, and parents last year. But Morgan is one of the best relationship builders in the sport, and he wasted no time laying that foundation. Alabama is building its class on that foundation.
Nick Saban built the Crimson Tide into a national powerhouse, and thusly, Alabama will always recruit from a national crop of players. Where a player is from won't be the deciding factor on whether they pursue someone or not, but you have to have some in-state flavor to your class.
Heading into the final official visit weekend of the summer, the list of official visitors in Tuscaloosa is headlined by the best of the best in the state.
DeBoer is looking to lock down a dominant in-state class for 2026 this weekend
The consensus top four prospects in the state of Alabama in the 2026 cycle are, in some order: WR Cederian Morgan, EDGE Anthony "Tank" Jones, RB Ezavier Crowell, and CB Zyan Gibson. Gibson is already committed to the Crimson Tide, pledging back in December. He has taken other visits, most recently to Ole Miss and Tennessee, but he is still expected to be in the Tide's class.
All four of them will be in Tuscaloosa this weekend for official visits.
Alabama has been viewed as the heavy favorite for both Morgan and Crowell for quite a while. Morgan has taken officials to Colorado, Georgia, Florida, and Auburn, and while the Gators and Tigers feel like they still have a shot, the On3 RPM has Alabama as a 92.8% favorite to land the 5-star WR.
Crowell has taken visits to Georgia, Texas, and Auburn, but similarly to Morgan, Alabama is at 87.5% in the RPM ahead of his official visit weekend.
Crowell and Morgan will announce their commitment decisions shortly after their officials to Tuscaloosa, making it all the more vital that Alabama landed the final visit for each. Crowell is scheduled to announce on June 26th; Morgan on July 2nd.
The most tenuous recruitment as Alabama looks to land the top four players in the state is with EDGE Anthony "Tank" Jones. The Tide is a slight favorite at just over 31% on the RPM, but they have the most work to do with the Mobile product this weekend.
Jones has taken official visits to Auburn, Miami, Texas A&M, and Oregon previously. This was long considered an Alabama vs. Auburn battle, but the Ducks made up some ground over the weekend and could now factor into his recruitment.
Jones doesn't have a commitment date set, but he is expected to make a decision sometime this summer, too.
DeBoer is on the verge of landing a monster class in 2026. Alabama only has six commitments at the moment, but the momentum is real and a big run is expected to begin soon. The end of this month and early July should be a fun time to be an Alabama fan. It will be even better if DeBoer lands the top four players in the state and stuffs Freeze and Auburn into a locker in the process.