3-star DL Viliami Moala decommitted from Oregon on Monday despite being committed to the Ducks since October of last year. Normally, that wouldn't be news for an Alabama site. But at the same time as he was backing off his pledge to Oregon, he announced that he would be transferring to Thompson High School in Alabaster, Alabama for his senior season of high school.
@raisingchamps_ pic.twitter.com/5LWngdGOCO
— VILIAMI MOALA (@AmiMoala56) July 7, 2025
Most of you reading this know, but for those who don't: Alabaster is about an hour drive from Tuscaloosa, and Thompson has long been a pipeline for the Crimson Tide. It also happens to be the high school that Tua Tagovailoa's little brother Taulia attended when his family relocated from Hawaii to Alabama when Tua committed to the Crimson Tide.
It's that connection, more than anything else, that has rumors swirling about Alabama's potential involvement with Moala.
Alabama has not been involved in Moala's recruitment thus far
Things can change in a blink in recruiting, but up to this point Alabama has had little to no contract with Moala. The Tide isn't listed as one of the programs that has offered him, and his name hasn't been mentioned by insiders as a potential player in this class.
Moala is more of a throwback-style nose tackle, listed at 6-foot-3 and 340 pounds. If Nick Saban were still running the show in Tuscaloosa, then he would probably be a player of interest to the staff. Instead, it's Kalen DeBoer's show and Kane Wommack's defense. As is, Moala doesn't seem like a natural fit in the new system.
Just because Alabama hasn't recruited Moala to this point, doesn't mean that they won't. His transfer to Thompson is likely unrelated to the Crimson Tide, but him playing right up 459 means the staff will have eyes on him at some point.
The Tide coaching staff will have a vested interest in Thompson this year after offering their QB, Trent Seaborn, who is among the top signal-callers in the 2027 class.
Alabama is happy with their DL haul at this point, especially after recently landing a commitment from 4-star Nolan Wilson. Alabama also holds a commitment from 3-star JJ Finch, along with two EDGE recruits who could factor at multiple positions up front: Kamhariyan Johnson and Jamarion Matthews.
The Crimson Tide also remains in hot pursuit of 5-star EDGE Anthony 'Tank' Jones, a Mobile, AL native who is the top recruit remaining on this staff's board.
For now, it would be a surprise to see Moala become a target. But if he has a strong senior season right up the road, he'll garner the attention of the Alabama staff.