With college football's scholarship limit expanding from 85 to 105, you can afford to take fliers on players who you otherwise wouldn't have had a spot for.
Alabama has done that with several prospects in the 2026 class.
It makes even more sense to do it when you can take a flier on an intriguing athlete who, in turn, boosts your standing for one of the best players in the entire country.
That's exactly what happened on Tuesday evening when Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide took a commitment from undersized 3-star athlete Amari Sabb, the younger brother of Alabama starting safety Keon Sabb. Amari is a good player in his own right, but at just 170 pounds and only 5-foot-9, it will be interesting to see if he can develop enough in the strength and conditioning program to ever make a difference at the SEC level.
But if he does, that's just icing on the cake. Because Alabama's pursuit of him was multi-purposed.
Yes, Alabama needed some additional depth in the WR room. Sabb provides that. And yes, he is an intriguing option as a kick/punt returner, which is where he might be the most impactful during his playing career in Tuscaloosa.
But more importantly than that is his addition might give Alabama a significant leg up in the pursuit of his brother: 5-star 2027 WR Xavier Sabb.
Alabama could surge in the pursuit of 5-star WR Xavier Sabb after landing his older brother
With two of the three Sabb brothers already in Tuscaloosa, it'll be harder for Xavier to ignore the family feel at the Capstone. Alabama was already a significant factor in his recruitment, with most experts viewing the Crimson Tide as one of his top four suitors, along with Notre Dame, Oregon, and Nebraska.
And while his brothers being in Tuscaloosa won't be the only factor in his recruitment, it certainly doesn't hurt. It gives Alabama an edge that no other program chasing him has.
Xavier is one of the premier prospects in the 2027 class. He's a composite 5-star and listed as the No. 1 ATH in the country. Like Amari, he's a two-way player for Glassboro High School in New Jersey, but projects as a WR at the next level.
His recruitment will be competitive over the next 10 months before the early signing period, but DeBoer's chess move might have just moved Alabama to the front of the pecking order.