Kalen DeBoer has built a lot of momentum for Alabama on the recruiting trail, and that momentum is getting ready to pay off for a flurry of commitments from blue-chip targets in the 2026 class.
The crown jewel of Alabama's class appears like it's going to come from in-state prospects. While Alabama already has a commitment from 5-star CB Jorden Edmons, and remains in the running (or outright leading) for 5-stars Jireh Edwards and Xavier Griffin from out-of-state, the Crimson Tide is close to potentially landing the top three players in the state.
Later on Thursday, 5-star RB Ezavier Crowell is projected to commit to Alabama. Next week, 5-star WR Cederian Morgan is expected to join him. And now, according to one recruiting insider, DeBoer and company are leading the way for 5-star EDGE Anthony 'Tank' Jones:
"We like Alabama as the lead school"@ChadSimmons_ says Bama is looking good for 5⭐️ EDGE Tank Jones 🐘
— Josh Newberg (@josh_newberg) June 26, 2025
MORE: https://t.co/fK6RD8oAs2 pic.twitter.com/3B22WuSeJl
As Newberg mentions in the video, Jones' recruitment is far from over. Oregon, Texas A&M, and Miami (FL) have all made pushes to get Jones out of the state. Auburn hasn't given up the chase, either. All of those schools will continue to recruit him until he signs a financial aid agreement with his chosen school.
But it's the first indication given by a recruiting insider that Jones may be leaning in any direction. Alabama has felt good for a while about where it stands with Jones, but his camp has been tight-lipped about everything.
Landing the top three players in the state would be a major coup for Kalen DeBoer
Not only would landing the top three players in the state be a major coup for DeBoer and the Alabama staff, it would be a devastating blow to Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers. Results on the field have yet to come, so Freeze and company have hung their hats on recruiting. And now, recruiting has begun to slip for the Tigers as well.
It was assumed by Auburn fans that Freeze would severely out-recruit DeBoer, who was an SEC outsider from the West Coast. Their experience with Bryan Harsin made them assume that DeBoer would face a similar fate.
Instead, DeBoer already has one top-five class under his belt and is positioning to sign another one. The only negative that could be said about Alabama's 2025 class was that it lacked much in-state flavor. That seems like it's going to change in a major way in the 2026 cycle.
Morgan, Crowell, and Jones are the consensus top three players in the state of Alabama. Some recruiting services have Alabama CB commit Zyan Gibson as the fourth. If DeBoer can reel in the other three to go along with Gibson, it'll be a dominant effort on the trail.
All four were in Tuscaloosa for official visits this past weekend. Alabama is trending to land a monumental group from its own borders, teamed with plenty of talented prospects from across the country.