Kalen DeBoer, Alabama quietly looking to poach a 2026 Oklahoma commitment

Kalen DeBoer and Alabama recently extended an offer to a 2026 recruit who has been committed to Brent Venables and Oklahoma since June.
Gary Cosby Jr- USA Today Network via Imagn Images

Recruiting never stops, even on the heels of a devastating loss. Fresh off a two-touchdown defeat to Florida State in Tallahassee last weekend - and with a game against UL Monroe on deck this Saturday - Kalen DeBoer and Alabama are still looking to add to the margins of a highly-regarded 2026 recruiting class.

After missing on top EDGE targets like KJ Ford and Anthony "Tank" Jones, it appears the Crimson Tide is pivoting to a lesser-known, arguably underrated prospect. 3-star EDGE Matthew Nelson from Bryant, Arkansas, recently reported an Alabama offer.

Nelson committed to Brent Venables and Oklahoma back in June and announced his recruitment was completely shut down. But things can change quickly on the trail, and an offer from Alabama could change things quickly.

Nelson is only listed at 215 pounds, but at 6-foot-5, he has the frame to add the weight that will be necessary for him to contribute off the edge in the SEC. It will be interesting to see, following an offer from the Crimson Tide, how much Nelson's recruitment picks up.

Nelson is a 3-star recruit who ranks as the No. 506 overall player in the 247 composite. He's the No., 50 EDGE and the No. 8-ranked player in the state of Arkansas.

Nelson's offer from Alabama is just his sixth offer from a Power-Four school. Along with Oklahoma, Nelson also holds offers from Cincinnati, Houston, Mississippi State, and Missouri.

Matthew Nelson could be a hidden gem in the 2026 recruiting class

Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables has a keen eye for defensive talent, so chances are, if he was a priority for the Sooners, he's a good player. He's got the physical tools, but is probably someone who will need a year or two to develop before he's ready to get on the field.

He seems to be okay with that. If he weren't, he probably would be committed to Tulane or another Group-of-Five team.

Following the offer, Alabama will certainly try to get him on campus for a gameday visit this fall. For their sake, hopefully the team plays much better than they did this past Saturday, or it won't matter if Nelson comes to Tuscaloosa to see the team or not.

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