Re-evaluating Alabama’s 2025 linebacker class after recent decommitment

Alabama lost another member of its 2025 recruiting class to a bitter rival on Sunday afternoon when 4-star linebacker Jaedon Harmon announced that he has flipped to Tennessee. 

Harmon is a promising prospect out of Rome, Georgia. The 4-star is generally considered to be a top-200 player and a top-20 linebacker nationally. This is a good pickup for the Vols, who have been surging on the recruiting trail as of late. 

Even without him, Bama continues to hold serve with the no. 2 class in the nation and the best recruiting class in the SEC. Additionally, the Tide is still very much set at linebacker; fortunately, this happens to be one of the deepest position groups in Bama’s 2025 class. 

Alabama still holds solid commitments from 4-stars Darrell “Duke” Johnson, Abduall Sanders Jr., and Luke Metz at off-ball linebacker. Johnson is a top-50 player nationally and one of the best linebackers in the entire class. Sanders and Metz are both lower-end 4-stars but have really impressed the Alabama coaching staff. Both come from powerhouse high school programs with Sanders hailing from Mater Dei (CA) and Metz coming from Mill Creek (GA). 

To look at Jaedon Harmon’s decommitment from a glass half full perspective, this could improve Bama’s chances of landing 4-star linebacker Ty Jackson. Jackson is arguably the best linebacker in the 2025 cycle and is one of the most coveted prospects on Alabama’s board. He is considered the top linebacker in the country by both On3 and ESPN and could very well be a 5-star by signing day.

Though Bama currently holds a narrow edge in his recruitment according to On3, Jackson is not expected to commit any time soon. Conference foes like Georgia and Florida are still in the hunt for his commitment and will continue pushing hard. Alabama would’ve had to fight for Jackson either way, but Harmon’s decommitment creates a little more breathing room in what was previously a 4-man inside linebacker class. 

While it’s never good to lose a 4-star recruit to a hated rival, rest assured that Alabama will be fine. The Tide’s linebacker haul and 2025 class as a whole are both among the nation’s best, and this staff has an opportunity to put an impressive product on the field this fall and finish strong on the recruiting trail.