June has ended, and Coach Deboer has done an excellent job of quieting his critics on the recruiting trail. One of the biggest question marks for Coach Deboer coming to Alabama was whether he could recruit on the big-time level that Coach Saban was able to do during his tenure in Tuscaloosa. The answer to this point is a resounding yes. Coach Deboer and his staff have done a great job recruiting especially on the defensive side of the ball, and their efforts currently have the Crimson Tide sitting at the number two slot in the 2025 recruiting rankings according to On3.com. Not a bad start for a guy who many thought would find problems recruiting in the SEC and the South.
The most exciting part of these initial recruiting successes is happening before Coach Deboer and the new-look Alabama program has played a game on the field. If recruiting for Coach Deboer and his staff looks this good now, imagine how it will look if he can make a couple of playoff appearances or win a National Championship. The atmosphere in Tuscaloosa is different and the new recruits really seem to be enjoying it. They are buying into what Coach Deboer and his staff are selling and what Coach Saban built appears to be in good hands with this new staff.
Some may say this is an overreaction because it is still in the summer, and we know these young players can change their minds at the drop of a hat, but these are the same people who thought this immediate success in recruiting wouldn't come to Coach Deboer either. The most impressive part of the recruiting wins in June for me was how well Alabama did on the defensive side of the ball. Not bad for a coaching staff coming from the Pac-12 who supposedly don't care a lick about defense. The fun part is July has the potential to be another huge month for Alabama on the recruiting trail.