Despite its heavy recruiting efforts at the start of the official visit cycle this spring and summer, Alabama still has just five players committed to its 2026 class. Kalen DeBoer proved his chops as an elite SEC recruiter last season with the No. 3 class in the country, but so far he’s lagging behind in this year’s cycle. That could change with another talented crop of recruits heading to Tuscaloosa for their official visits this weekend.
This weekend should advance Alabama’s efforts to land a quarterback in the 2026 class, something that has appeared to be a priority for DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb even after landing five-star Keelon Russell in 2025. Four-star QB Matt Ponatoski, a two-sport athlete who also intends to play baseball at the collegiate level, could be Alabama’s best option at the position, and he’ll be arriving on Friday with a group headlined by five-star talent.
Rolling right along…
— Brett Greenberg (@BrettGreenberg_) June 3, 2025
Alabama is expecting double-digit official visitors this weekend.
Five-star No. 1 CB commit Jorden Edmonds, five-star No. 1 LB Xavier Griffin & five-star No. 3 S Jireh Edwards headline the June 6-8 group.
Early Look: https://t.co/Id2soZMX1T pic.twitter.com/DSi5DkWFtF
11 recruits set for official visits at Alabama on Friday, June 6
- Jireh Edwards, S (Baltimore, MD): 5-star
- Xavier Griffin, EDGE (Gainesville, GA): 5-star
- Kaiden Prothro, ATH (Bowdon, GA): 4-star
- Derrek Cooper, ATH (Hollywood, FL): 4-star
- Jaquez Wilkes, EDGE (Wadley, AL): 4-star
- Jamarion Matthews, EDGE (Gainesville, GA): 4-star
- Khamari Brooks, EDGE (Bogart, GA): 4-star
- Sam Utu, OT (Orange, CA): 4-star
- Corey Barber, WR (Hoover, AL): 3-star
- Matt Ponatoski, QB (Cincinnati, OH): 3-star
- Kamhariyan Johnson, EDGE (Muscle Shoals, AL): 3-star
As Brett Greenberg of Bama247 reported, five-star cornerback and Alabama commit Jorden Edmonds is potentially heading to Tuscaloosa this weekend. However, Edmonds’ official visit date is still listed as June 20 on Bama247.
If Edmonds does arrive, he’ll be the third five-star player in a talented group of recruits. For now, considering Edwards’s ties to Georgia and Griffin’s connection to the area as a Georgia native, keeping those two players away from the Bulldogs has to be Kalen DeBoer’s primary objective this weekend.
Edmonds and Zyan Gibson are the two highest-rated players in Alabama’s 2026 class, and both are cornerbacks, so even more than swaying Edwards away from his interest in Georgia, landing a five-star edge rusher like Xavier Griffin would be massive for DeBoer. Griffin is one of five edge rushers in this 11-player official visit group, making it clear that adding an elite pass-rusher is paramount for DeBoer and defensive coordinator Kane Wommack.
With Alabama's resources backing him, DeBoer is one of the better recruiters in college football, so there is no chance his 2026 class will finish where it is currently ranked at No. 46 in the nation. Still, the pressure is starting to mount as he and his staff head into the second major weekend of official visits with only five 2026 commitments.