Bama Central

Recruiting Rundown: Kalen DeBoer's First Junior Day on the Job

The Crimson Tide is officially turning its attention to the Class of 2025.

Joe Gaither

Recruiting Rundown: Kalen DeBoer's First Junior Day on the Job
Recruiting Rundown: Kalen DeBoer's First Junior Day on the Job /
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The Alabama Crimson Tide football program is getting set for a massive weekend as head coach Kalen DeBoer is set to host the first "Junior Day" recruiting weekend. 

Former Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban and his staff all but gift wrapped the Class of 2024 to the new coaching staff, allowing DeBoer and the new staff to focus on the rising seniors. 

This coming weekend should begin to quell any concerns about DeBoer's staff as some of the nation's top talent comes to Tuscaloosa to check out the University of Alabama.

Checking out the Capstone

  • Two Class of 2024 prospects will be in Tuscaloosa this weekend.
      • QB Reese is scheduled to take an official visit. The 3-star linebacker from Ramsay High School in Birmingham has been committed to Alabama since September and is still planning on signing his letter of intent on National Signing Day on Wednesday. 
      • Ryan Williams is taking an unofficial visit this weekend. The 5-star receiver has plans to be part of the weekend as he's taken over 20 visits to Tuscaloosa during his recruitment.
  • The Class of 2025 is loaded with top prospects coming to Tuscaloosa this weekend.
      • Anthony "Turbo" Rogers - 4-star running back out of IMG Academy in Florida. He's still committed to the Crimson Tide and is currently the top-rated recruit in the class.
      • Myles Johnson - A 4-star linebacker out of T.R. Miller High School in Brewton, Ala. He committed to the Crimson Tide in October of last year and has maintained his status during the transition to DeBoer. 247Sports considers him the No. 23 overall linebacker and the No. 14 prospect in the state of Alabama.
      • Jordan Young  - The 4-star safety out of North Carolina is considered the No. 3 safety in the class but is currently considered to be leaning towards the Clemson Tigers.
      • Derick Smith - The 6-foot-1 wide receiver from Selma is considered a 4-star prospect. 247Sports rates him as the No. 6 receiver in the class and the No. 6 prospect in the state of Alabama.
      • Antonio Coleman - The 4-star defensive lineman out of Saraland High School flipped his commitment from Alabama to Auburn in December. He's considered the No. 8 defensive lineman in the class and the No. 9 prospect in the state of Alabama. 
      • Marcus Harris - He's a 5-foot-11 receiver out of Mater Dei in Santa Ana, Calif. The Crimson Tide has a nice history with the Monarch's program already with Bryce Young among others going from California to Tuscaloosa. Harris is considered a 4-star receiver and the No. 20 receiver in the class by 247Sports.
      • Travis Smith - A 4-star receiver out of Westlake High School in Atlanta. He's 6-foot-4 and considered the No. 26 receiver in the class by 247Sports.
      • Anthony Sacca - He's a 6-foot-3, 225-pound linebacker out of Philadelphia. His father played quarterback at Penn State in the late 1980s and he himself is considered the No. 25 linebacker in the class and the No. 6 player in Pennsylvania.
      • CJ Wiley - He's a 6-foot-4 receiver out of Milton High School in Alpharetta, Ga. He's considered the No. 78 receiver in the class by 247 Sports, however the composite rankings that consider the other recruiting services evaluations list him as the No. 35 receiver in the class.
      • Daylyn Upshaw - The Central Phenix City Red Devil is considered a 3-star prospect. The 5-foot-11 receiver is considered the No. 90 receiver in the class currently by 247Sports. 
      • Chase Loftin - He's a 6-foot-6 tight end from Omaha. He's Only considered a 3-star prospect by 247Sports but they rank him as the No. 2 prospect in the state of Nebraska in the class. His brother Brayden is currently playing tight end for the Kansas State Wildcats.
      • Abduall Sanders - A second prospect out of Mater Dei will join Marcus Harris. Sanders is a 3-star linebacker out of California standing at 6-foot-2, 210-pounds. 
      • Josiah Sharma - He's a 6-foot-5, 295-pound defensive lineman out of Folsom, Calif. 247Sports rates him as a 3-star prospect and the No. 60 overall defensive lineman in the class.
      • Mal Waldrep - A second Phenix City Red Devil will be on campus. Waldrep is a 3-star offensive tackle standing at 6-foot-5, 290-pounds. 247Sports considers him the No. 17 overall prospect in the state of Alabama. 
      • D'Shaun Ford - A 3-star running back out of Opelousas, La. He's considered the No. 28 running back in the class and the No. 12 prospect in the state of Louisiana. 
      • Edward Coleman - A 3-star prospect out of Savannah, Ga.,  the Calvary Day School student is considered the No. 60 overall receiver in the class. 
      • Jamari Harrold - Harrold is an unranked receiver out of Norcross, Ga. He stands at 6-foot-4, 205-pounds.
      • Cade Channell - He's an unranked offensive lineman out of Dora, Ala. The tackle stands at 6-foot-5, 280-pounds
  • Coach DeBoer and their staff is also putting in work with the Class of 2026. These rising juniors are expected to be on campus this weekend.
      • Jahkeem Stewart - The 6-foot-6, 270-pound defensive lineman out of New Orleans is considered one of the best players in the class. 247Sports rates him as the No. 1 defensive lineman, the No. 2 overall prospect in Louisiana and the No. 3 overall prospect in the class.
      • Bryce Perry-Wright - Another prominent defensive lineman in the Class of 2026. He's 6-foot-2, 245-pounds out of Buford High School in Georgia. 247Sports considers him the No. 6 defensive lineman in the class and the No. 7 prospect in the state of Georgia.
      • Zelus Hicks - He's a safety from Carrollton High School in Georgia. The Tide already has Caleb Odom out of Carrollton and is making a push for their quarterback JuJu Lewis. Hicks is considered the No. 3 safety in the class and the No. 8 prospect in the state of Georgia. 
      • Carter Luckie - He's an unranked defensive lineman out of Norcross, Ga. He stands at 6-foot-5, 250-pounds.
      • Anthony Davis - Not the former Kentucky basketball player, but instead Davis is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound linebacker out of Loganville, Ga. He's not yet ranked by recruiting services.
      • Amari Sabb -  Sabb is an unranked athlete out of Glassboro, N.J. He's listed at 5-foot-9, 155-pounds. 
      • Nassir McCoy - McCoy is an unranked safety out of Buford High School. He stands at 6-foot-2, 180 pounds. 
      • Michael Ionata -  Ionata is the younger brother of Alabama freshman lineman Joe Ionata. He's also an offensive lineman out of Calvary Christian school in Florida. 

Bama Basketball Nuggets

The Alabama Crimson Tide already has one of the best recruiting classes in the 2024 cycle and must now begin to heavily invest in the next class.

According to Joe Tipton of On3 Sports Darius Adams is on the Crimson Tide's radar as they're one of the five schools he hears from the most. Adams is considered a 5-star prospect out of La Porte, In. The 6-foot-5 combo guard is considered the No. 19 player in the entire class and the No. 2 player in the state of Indiana. 

Tipton reports that the Crimson Tide is also in on Terrion Burgess as they're one of the seven schools he hears from the most. Burgess is a 6-foot-8 power forward out of Benton, Ar. He's considered 4-star prospect and the No. 37 player in the nation but the No. 1 overall player in Arkansas.

Lastly it appears the Crimson Tide coaching staff is also pursuing Efeosa Oliogu as Tipton reports he's hearing from the Tide as well as five other schools the most. Oliogu is considered a 4-star prospect and plays his basketball currently for Overtime Elite in Florida. He's a 6-foot-5 small forward and considered the No. 11 small forward in the class of 2025.

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Joe Gaither
JOE GAITHER

My name is Joe Gaither, I am a native of Chattanooga, Tenn., and a 2018 graduate of the University of Alabama. I have a strong passion for sports and giving a voice to the underserved. Feel free to email me at joegaither6@icloud.com for tips, story ideas or comments.

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