Alabama had two 2027 defensive linemen on campus over the weekend visiting for the Florida State game. Both were committed elsewhere. The first, 3-star Tulane commitment Kavarris "Duke" Duncan, flipped his commitment to Alabama on Sunday, just one day after receiving an official offer from the Crimson Tide.
The other, 3-star Memphis commitment Joshua Lane, backed off his pledge to the hometown Tigers on Sunday night. Lane didn't immediately flip his commitment to Alabama as Duncan did, but you have to like where Alabama sits after he decommitted from Memphis:
Trusting God’s plan and His timing. I’m thankful for every opportunity and excited to see where He leads me next @WMajorWright @CoachQJones09 @On3 @247recruiting pic.twitter.com/5QqarjkE5F
— Joshua lane (@thejoshualane77) September 20, 2026
Alabama target Joshua Lane decommits from Memphis after visiting Tuscaloosa
Lane, a 6-foot-3, 265-pound defensive lineman from Memphis Central High School, has seen his recruitment heat up in recent weeks. After committing to Memphis back in June, Lane has added Power Four offers from Oklahoma State, Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi State, Iowa State, and Alabama.
Lane has put out some impressive tape from his senior season so far. In four games, he's matched his career sack total and equaled the number of tackles-for-loss he finished his junior season with.
Lane's visit to Tuscaloosa over the weekend was an unofficial visit. He will reportedly be returning to town in the coming weeks for an official visit. Alabama sits in good shape in his recruitment, but there are plenty of others who are pursuing him now. Don't rule out the possibility that he takes multiple visits in the next few weeks before making a decision.
This is a guy who was under-recruited the whole time, so the recent wave of offers has to have been a whirlwind for him. He may want to take the time to ensure he is making the right decision. Decommitting from the hometown team probably wasn't an easy decision, but he's got a lot more options right now than he did just a month ago.
After landing a commitment from Duncan on Sunday, Alabama has two defensive linemen in the 2027 class. He joins Alabama native AJ Pauley, who was one of the earliest commitments for the Crimson Tide in this cycle. Adding Lane would likely wrap up the 2027 class if they can reel him in.
This isn't the same level of defensive line class as Alabama signed a year ago, but there are some low-risk, high-reward guys in this class who could end up being significant contributors down the line. Remember, London Simmons was a 3-star recruit who earned a significant role as a freshman and remains a major part of the Tide's rotation up front as a sophomore.
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