Alabama has surged in the 2025 recruiting rankings this summer and currently holds the no. 1 class according to On3. The Tide has the second-ranked class per 247Sports, but even there it has the highest per-recruit average at 94.67.
The job this new staff has done is incredible, and it’s not done yet. Kalen DeBoer and company will continue recruiting hard all the way to the December early signing period and beyond.
It is widely expected that the next piece to join Alabama’s class will be elite running back AK Dear from Quitman, Mississippi. Both outlets consider Dear a top-50 overall prospect and a very high 4-star with the opportunity to eventually gain that fifth star. On3 ranks Dear as the no. 2 running back in the country while 247Sports calls him the top RB in the nation. He has been considered a strong Alabama lean since decommitting from Ole Miss almost three weeks ago, but has kept the Bama faithful waiting since then.
The Tide also remains in the hunt for players like Ty Jackson, an elite linebacker out of Florida, and receivers Kaliq Lockett and Derek Meadows. Bama feels more like a long shot for both Lockett and Meadows, but the coaching staff seems to be pretty content with the receiver room as it is.
Though Bama already has four inside linebackers committed, Ty Jackson is a major difference-maker and would be a huge pickup. It still feels very early in Jackson’s recruitment, as he has no obvious favorites and is expected to wait until December to make a decision.
DeBoer's first class a good one
As it stands, Alabama’s class is very well-rounded. The 22 commitments include a top-notch quarterback in Elite 11 MVP Keelon Russell, a speedy running back in Turbo Rogers, two very good wide receivers, a top-10 tight end, and a complete 5-man offensive line haul headlined 5-star OT Ty Haywood.
On the other side of the ball, it supplements its extremely deep defensive line room with two interior commitments, adds two twitchy edge rushers in Dawson Merritt and Justin Hill, and has commitments from four inside linebackers and three elite defensive backs. Add two top-tier specialists in kicker Peter Notaro and punter Alex Asparuhov and this class isn’t missing much of anything.
Much of the focus will likely shift to holding onto these commitments throughout the fall, and success on the field should help the cause. Alabama may or may not hold onto the top spot, but it has all but cemented one of the best 2025 recruiting classes in America. This group has it all; balance, depth, and top-end talent. One day, it will be remembered as Kalen DeBoer’s first class in Tuscaloosa and hopefully the core of a championship team.