Predictably, it's been a slow start to the 2027 recruiting cycle for Kalen DeBoer and Alabama.
That's been the case in DeBoer's first two recruiting cycles as the Crimson Tide's head coach, too, and it culminated in Alabama signing Top 5 classes both years. So there's obviously no need to panic, despite a couple of recent decommitments and another that certainly appears to be on the horizon.
This staff has earned the benefit of the doubt, at least on the recruiting trail.
The spring and summer have been fruitful for Alabama on the trail the last two years, and it is positioning for that to happen again with numerous elite prospects scheduled for visits to Tuscaloosa in the coming months.
One that has been more off-the-radar is starting to come into focus.
4-star WR Chris Harris Jr., a Missouri native, committed to the home state Tigers back in March. But DeBoer and the Crimson Tide are working hard to try and flip the versatile prospect with track-speed and a ton of production as a junior.
Harris produced over 2,000 all-purpose yards during his junior season as a receiver, runner, and return man, which has earned him quite a bit of attention across the country.
Alabama is looking to flip Missouri 4-star WR commit Chris Harris Jr., writes @GregSmithRivals 👀
— Rivals (@Rivals) March 26, 2026
“I want to see what makes them (Alabama) a winning program.”
More: https://t.co/jmaOrxPuDs pic.twitter.com/UE8FF1ZEe9
Alabama looking to flip 4-star WR Chris Harris away from Missouri
It won't be easy to flip Harris away from his home state team, but Alabama has put itself in a position to take a big swing.
So far, the No. 4 player in the state of Missouri has only scheduled two official visits for the summer. He'll go to Missouri on June 5th, followed by his first trip to Tuscaloosa the following week to check out the Crimson Tide.
DeBoer and company have knocked official visits out of the park during his tenure in Tuscaloosa, and they'll roll out the red carpet for the Lee's Summit product.
Alabama may have some bigger fish to fry at WR in the 2027 class with 5-star Monshun Sales, but this will be a class in which the Crimson Tide looks to sign multiple receivers. Harris would be a perfect complementary piece next to Sales.