Kalen DeBoer was derisively called "Husky Harsin" by Auburn fans when he arrived at Alabama, a snide nickname based on their own head coaching failure with Bryan Harsin from Boise State. It was assumed by them that DeBoer would suffer a similar fate with no real connections to local talent.
But what is conveniently forgotten by Auburn fans is that these programs are simply not the same. They aren't in the same stratosphere. Hell, they're barely playing the same sport.
It's not a big brother or little brother relationship either, as so many so often put it. No, Alabama is daddy. And currently, Kalen DeBoer is treating Hugh Freeze like the red-headed stepchild.
Auburn fans are coping by telling themselves that Nick Saban is still recruiting for Alabama. They base that on Saban spending a few hours in Tuscaloosa a couple of weeks ago during a big recruiting weekend. They ignore that being the only time Saban has been in town for an official visit weekend since he retired. It's easier than accepting the reality that they were, as usual, wrong.
Alabama's latest commitment of in-state WR Cederian Morgan is Alabama's third 5-star commitment in the last six days. The only "5" Freeze has seen recently is on the golf course. The coach who was going to make DeBoer's head spin on the recruiting trail is instead getting beaten worse on the recruiting trail than on the football field last November.
Alabama now has the No. 6-ranked class in 2026. That's 83 spots ahead of where Auburn currently stands.
DeBoer has added insult to injury to Freeze and Auburn in 2026
Alabama signed a better class than Auburn did in 2025. But Freeze and company could hang their hat on in-state domination. The Tigers signed eight of the Top 10 players in the state of Alabama in that cycle, with Alabama signing none from that group, and just two players from the state overall.
It was the only flaw in an otherwise brilliant debut class for DeBoer in Tuscaloosa. He has taken major steps to rectify that in 2026.
Armed with one of the best relationship-builders in the country in GM Courtney Morgan, DeBoer has instantly reversed fortunes for Alabama with in-state recruits. With Morgan joining 5-star RB Ezavier Crowell and 4-star CB Zyan Gibson, the Tide holds commitments from three of the top five players in the state.
Even better, the others are a QB trending away from Auburn (Landon Duckworth), and an EDGE rusher who Alabama was recently seen as the favorite for in Anthony 'Tank' Jones. If Jones doesn't end up in the Crimson Tide's class, it sounds like he'll head out of state to either Texas A&M or Oregon.
Five of Alabama's 17 commitments are from the state. Two others (Xavier Griffin and Jamarion Matthews) are originally from the state of Alabama, but transferred to Georgia high schools over the last couple of years.
Alabama is a national brand, which means they will always recruit nationally. They won't be limited by state borders, but in today's era of college football, it's all the more important to lock up the top-tier talent in your own state.
DeBoer and company are doing that in this cycle, further beating the allegations of his inability as a recruiter.