Michigan keeps pushing to steal a 4-star Alabama commit away from Kalen DeBoer

While the focus of Kalen DeBoer and Courtney Morgan’s recruiting efforts has primarily been on the quarterback position, Alabama heads into the summer with three other commits in its five-player 2027 class. The highest-ranked of those players, however, four-star tight end Colt Lumpris, isn’t quite locked down. 

The 6-foot-6, 250-pound New Jersey product has official visits scheduled with Texas A&M, Penn State, and Michigan, along with his pending trip to Tuscaloosa on May 29. At this point in the process, Kyle Whittingham’s Wolverines appear to pose the biggest threat. 

Lumpris will not travel to Ann Arbor until June 5, but Whittingham isn’t interested in waiting that long. This week, the brother of Michigan’s 66-year-old first-year head coach, Freddie Whittingham, who coaches the Wolverines’ tight ends, made the trip to The Lawrenceville School, where Lumpris is finishing his junior year. 

Freddie Whittingham paid a visit to Colt Lumpris in New Jersey

Currently ranked as the 16th-best tight end in the 2027 class, Lumpris has the potential to shoot up the rankings next fall. 

He played last season at 225 pounds, primarily as a wide receiver either from the slot or outside. Now, at least by 247Sports, he is listed at 249-pounds. His frame looks perfect to add weight, which would make him a more viable in-line tight end. If he can maintain similar athleticism with the additional strength, he could easily become a difference-maker early in his career. 

Under DeBoer and Ryan Grubb, Alabama primarily played 11 personnel last season with three wide receivers, one running back, and one tight end on the field. The NFL, and much of college football, though, is leaning into 12 and 13 personnel packages with two and three tight ends on the field. 

This allows the offensive play-caller to dictate terms to the defense and force dare defenses to put bigger bodies on the field. If they do, the explosive passing games is open. If they don’t, the offense can simply run the ball. After last season’s struggles on the ground, that could be a welcome change for Alabama, whether it comes in 2026 or later in DeBoer’s tenure. 

Adding players like Lumpris, who at their best project as solid blockers and explosive pass-catchers from the tight end spot, are what DeBoer and Grubb need to unlock that possibility for the Tide. Still, there’s no guarantee that Alabama ever adapts to the point where it is running a high volume of multi-tight end sets, which could work to Michigan’s advantage. 

Most of the teams supersizing are in the Big Ten. Michigan is no stranger to heavy personnel, and that could help to sway Lumpris. His recruitment will be one to watch through the official visit season this summer.

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