With a big recruiting weekend on tap, Kalen DeBoer has turned to Nick Saban for help

Kalen DeBoer has called in the big guns. If you had any doubts about how big this recruiting weekend is for Alabama, you can leave those behind. Nick Saban is in Tuscaloosa to help DeBoer and the staff pitch the Crimson Tide to the top players in the state of Alabama.

5-star Edge Anthony "Tank" Jones from Mobile posted the above photo on his Instagram story on Friday morning. Jones, along with 5-star WR Cederian Morgan, and 5-star RB Ezavier Crowell, headline this weekend's group of visitors in Tuscaloosa. They also happen to be the three best players in the state, according to composite recruiting rankings.

Saban has stayed mostly hands-off since he retired and DeBoer took his place. But Saban still cares deeply about the program and will help when he is needed.

With Alabama lagging a little bit behind in this year's recruiting class, and with the dead period set to start soon, it's clear that DeBoer and the staff could use a little extra this weekend to get the ball rolling on what has the potential to be a top-five class.

Nick Saban can help Kalen DeBoer close with some of the top players in the country

Alabama's brand will get them in the conversation with the majority of elite prospects out there, at least the ones who aren't aiming for the highest NIL payday they can get. But you still have to close and get them to sign on the dotted line.

DeBoer can do that himself, but there's no better closer in the history of recruiting than Saban. Saban sealed the deal with more elite prospects than any other coach during his 17-year run as Alabama's head coach. He has first-hand knowledge of what playing for the University of Alabama can do for a player's career, something he is undoubtedly sharing with Jones, Morgan, and Crowell, among others, this weekend.

DeBoer has always been careful as to when to bring Saban in to assist. It's his ace in the hole, and he knows he can't overuse it. Saban is happily retired, after all.

But this is as important a weekend as it gets for Alabama. DeBoer is looking to flip the script in-state in this cycle after losing out on the top talent within the borders in the 2025 cycle. Alabama sits in a good position to do so, holding the RPM lead on all three of the top prospects in the state, as well as holding a commitment from 4-star CB Zyan Gibson, who is ranked as the No. 4 player in the state by most outlets.

Alabama has positioned itself to make a big run on the trail in the coming weeks. With Saban in town, you have to like its chances even more.