The Alabama football team has dominated the summer, with every recruiting weekend culminating with pledges for Kalen DeBoer. Following the signings of Jackson Lloyd and London Simmons, the Tide is set to host one of the most star-studded lineups of the summer.
Alabama Football is slated to host several five-star recruits, with the goal of closing out numerous recruitments before the dead period begins on June 25th.
A Chance to Get Kalen DeBoer’s First Five-Star
The top focus on campus this weekend will be five-star cornerback Dijon Lee, who is on his final official visit before declaring his commitment on June 28th. The California native appeared to be torn between Georgia and Alabama, but the Tide appear to be the clear front-runner as Kalen DeBoer attempts to complete his first five-star recruiting class. Lee is ranked 30th in the class and 5th among cornerbacks.
The current coaching staff has done a tremendous job bringing in players from California, including Abduall Sanders, Chuck McDonald, Jackson Lloyd, and Alex Asparuhov, which puts the Tide in a good position to land Lee.
Could the Crimson Tide benefit from USC’s loss?
This week has been difficult for the USC Trojans, as they have lost commitments from two five-star defenders, causing their class to fall outside of the top 10. Justus Terry was one of the players that decommitted, and in addition to reopening his recruitment, he has cancelled his visit to USC this weekend and will instead fly to Tuscaloosa.
Terry is a consensus five-star recruit, with On3 ranking him as the tenth-best player in the class and the second-best defensive lineman. This recruitment might soon turn into a war between Kalen DeBoer and Freddie Roach versus Kirby Smart and Tray Scott, making this weekend’s visit critical.
The second Five-Star Receiver this week comes to campus.
The Tide began this week by hosting five-star wide receiver Kaliq Lockett for an official visit, thanks in part to Keelon Russell’s pledge. This weekend, Alabama Football will receive an official visit from consensus top-3 wide receiver recruit Caleb Cunningham, who is ranked 15th in the class by On3. The race for Cunningham is dominated by SEC institutions, with both in-state Mississippi colleges looking like front-runners and Alabama and Auburn looking to catch up. The Tide’s momentum with fellow Mississippi native Akylin Dear may aid them, but landing Cunningham will be a challenge.
Can the Tide reverse the momentum with the visit of two elite in-state recruits?
This weekend, the Tide will welcome two in-state recruits: edge rusher Jakaleb Faulk and offensive lineman Micah DeBose. Faulk has been an Auburn commit for nearly a year, but the Tide will bring On3’s 21st-ranked edge rusher to campus to press for a commitment switch.
Micah DeBose, who made an unofficial visit a few weeks ago, will also return to campus. The race for DeBose has always been viewed as Alabama vs. LSU, but the Tide have made a strong push for him and might potentially close him out this weekend. DeBose is ranked 123rd in this class and has the ability to help Alabama land the best offensive line class in the country, given where they stand with Ty Haywood.
The Tide get a visit from the nation’s top linebacker; can they close?
The Alabama football team already has five linebacker pledges and is in a good position with top-100 recruit Dawson Merritt, so they’re done at linebacker, right? Alabama will host the nation’s top linebacker, Ty Jackson, on an official visit this weekend. The Tide have emerged in this recruitment, and a successful performance this weekend could persuade Jackson to shift his commitment date up from December 4th before the dead period begins on June 25th.
Two Tide Commits Returns to Campus
This weekend, fellow linebacker commits Abduall Sanders and Luke Metz will help Ty Jackson in his recruitment. While the two will be pressing for additional commitments in this class, it is also another opportunity for the staff to block Sanders and Metz’s recruitments.
Metz recently visited Georgia, while Sanders is returning off an official visit to Tennessee. Both athletes have renewed their vows to Alabama, but the staff would feel much better if they could truly lock in the pair.
Trying to steer a few recruits away from SEC rivals.
We’ve already discussed how the Tide will aim to flip Auburn promise Jakaleb Faulk while also luring Micah DeBose and Caleb Cunningham away from SEC foes, but recruiting against conference rivals doesn’t end there. Damien Shanklin, a top-100 prospect edge rusher, will be on campus, and while many expect him to choose LSU, the Tide will try to make his decision more difficult.
Ole Miss commits. Corey Amos will visit Tuscaloosa this weekend, and the Tide could pair him alongside London Simmons. LSU target CJ Jimcoily will also visit Tuscaloosa this weekend as the Tide attempt to add defensive backs.
