Fresh off a big recruiting weekend, Kalen DeBoer and Alabama are heading directly into another critical weekend of recruiting. Quite a few big-time prospects will be in Tuscaloosa again this weekend as the Crimson Tide begin their big summer push for the 2026 class.
One of the biggest question marks for this recruiting class is at the QB position. After landing 5-star Keelon Russell in 2025, DeBoer and new OC Ryan Grubb have found it difficult to find a QB in the 2026 class. More and more in today's world of college football, players want a quicker path to playing time.
With the future of the program in the hands of Russell, whoever Alabama signs in the 2026 class is likely going to be a backup the first two years of their career. That prospect has turned away the top quarterbacks in this class, but Alabama has now identified its top two targets at the position.
This past weekend, Iowa State commit Jett Thomalla took an official visit to Alabama. He still has a visit lined up with the Cyclones later this month, but he has an offer from the Crimson Tide, and they have given him a lot to think about.
Now, DeBoer and company have lined up another visit with a QB. 4-star Matt Ponatoski, the No. 9 overall QB in the 2026 class according to On3, will take an official visit to Alabama this coming weekend.
Ponatoski is coming off a ridiculous junior season at Archbishop Moeller in Cincinnati, where he threw for over 3400 yards with 57 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He was named the Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year and the state's Mr. Football.
Ponatoski is also an elite baseball recruit who could ultimately play both sports at Alabama, providing a boost to Rob Vaughn and his team without burning a precious scholarship.
Alabama could ultimately take two QBs in the 2026 class
Ponatoski and Thomalla may not be an either/or for DeBoer and Grubb. They could ultimately look to take two quarterbacks in this recruiting cycle.
Following the 2025 season, it would not be a surprise if Russell is the last QB standing on the Alabama roster.
As of now, the plan appears to be for redshirt junior Ty Simpson to start at QB next season. He is expected to be a one-year bridge QB, and for Russell to be the heir apparent in 2026. If that's truly the case, then the expectation would be for redshirt sophomore Austin Mack to move on following this season.
If Mack doesn't believe he has a legitimate shot at the starting job, it's highly unlikely that he will return to Alabama for his fourth season of college football.
Ideally, Alabama would be in the market for a veteran in the Transfer Portal if both Simpson and Mack move on, but finding a veteran who is willing to be a backup is likely to be more difficult than finding two QBs in the 2026 class.