Alabama Football Recruiting 2024: Kalen DeBoer's Top Commits Landed and Predictions
Alabama has long been one of college football's premier programs, but it saw a major shake-up last offseason when longtime coach Nick Saban announced his retirement. The Crimson Tide hasn't been as dominant this season under new head coach Kalen DeBoer, though, Alabama hasn't experienced a massive drop-off either.
Saturday's 28-14 win over Auburn in the Iron Bowl ensured that Alabama will record at least nine wins for the 17th straight season.
It remains to be seen whether DeBoer can get Alabama back to being one of the best teams in the nation within the next couple of years, but he has, to this point, maintained the school's status as a premier landing spot for top recruits.
Alabama is expected to have one of the top recruiting classes again in 2025. With the early signing period set to open on Wednesday, now's a perfect time to examine where the Crimson Tide stand.
Alabama 2025 Recruiting Class
Overall Class Rank: No. 2
Top Committed Recruits
- 5-star QB Keelon Russell
- 5-star OL Michael Carroll
- 5-star CB Dijon Lee
- 5-star OT Ty Haywood
- 4-star S Ivan Taylor
- 4-star Edge Justin Hill
- 4-star OT Jackson Lloyd
- 4-star RB Akylin Dear
- 4-star CB Chuck McDonald
- 4-star TE Kaleb Edwards
- 4-star LB Darrell Johnson
- 4-star TE Marshall Pritchett
- 4-star OT Micah DeBose
*Recruiting rankings and information via 247Sports.
Strong Out-of-State Class Will Return Alabama to SEC Contention
Alabama fans had become accustomed to seeing the Crimson Tide battling in SEC Championship Games. However, Alabama will be watching from home this year as Georgia and Texas will battle for the top spot on Saturday.
It's not how fans envisioned the season unfolding, especially after Alabama beat Georgia back in September.
However, DeBoer's inaugural Alabama class has the potential to push the Tide right back into SEC contention. Only Georgia's class is ranked higher, according to 247Sports, and DeBoer was a very strong recruiter over the past two years for Washington.
DeBoer was particularly adept at bringing in offensive talent, which seems to be the case this year as well. The 2025 class is headlined by Duncanville (Texas) quarterback Keelon Russell, who has the potential to follow quarterbacks like Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa into the NFL.
"Has proven to be one of the most accurate passers in the 2025 cycle and at the halfway point of his senior campaign owned a Top247-best 70.8 percent career completion percentage," Andrew Ivins of 247Sports wrote.
Russell is the second-ranked QB recruit in the country, behind Michigan commit Bryce Underwood, according to 247Sports.
Other offensive recruits like 5-star IMG Academy (Florida) lineman Michael Carroll and 4-star Quitman (Mississippi) running back Akylin Dear can give Alabama one of the conference's top offenses within the next couple of years.
Interestingly, though, DeBoer has done his best recruiting outside of Alabama, which is a departure from the school's trend under Saban.
According to Grace Raynor of The Athletic, only one of 17 4-star recruits from the state of Alabama has committed to the Crimson Tide.
DeBoer's recruiting strategy may not follow Alabama's traditional path. However, the prediction here is that it still delivers a top-tier class that maintains Alabama's status as a top SEC program.
Alabama Hangs onto OL Ty Haywood
One thing we know about the early recruiting period is that nothing is set in stone. Recruits flip commitments every year, and the introduction of NIL money has recently made it a common occurrence.
The aforementioned Underwood, for example, flipped to Michigan from LSU just last month. According to Matt Moscona of ESPN Baton Rouge, Underwood's NIL offer from the Wolverines reached $12 million.
Michigan isn't done trying to flip 5-star recruits and has reportedly eyed Alabama commit and offensive tackle Ty Haywood. It would appear that Underwood is in on the recruiting process.
"He's trying to recruit me. He's basically saying 'that's the move,'" Haywood said, per On3's E.J. Holland.
Haywood is the fourth-ranked OT recruit in the country, according to 247Sports, and losing him would be a massive blow to Alabama's 2025 plans, However, the prediction here is that the 5-star blocker sticks with the Crimson Tide through the early signing period.
Both Michigan and Alabama have taken steps backward this year, but the Wolverines have largely faded from the spotlight since Jim Harbaugh's departure. Alabama is still a marquee SEC program with a strong track record of sending offensive linemen into the first round of the NFL draft.
JC Latham was the seventh overall pick in the 2024 draft, while Evan Neal was the seventh overall pick in 2022. DeBoer has also done a good job of developing NFL linemen. Washington's Troy Fautanu and Roger Rosengarten were first- and second-round picks, respectively, in 2024.
Expect Haywood to remain a part of Alabama's 2025 recruiting class.