Alabama leading the charge to flip Notre Dame 4-star QB commit Deuce Knight
Lucedale (Miss.) George County four-star quarterback Deuce Knight has made it known that his commitment to Notre Dame is still strong. That’s not stopping a slew of programs from trying to flip him from the Fighting Irish, however.
One of those teams in hot pursuit of the elite gunslinger is Alabama. New head coach Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide are showing plenty of interest in Knight — who is hearing the SEC powerhouse out as he continues to work through his recruitment.
“Since they got to Alabama, they have been coming after me hard. Coach DeBoer stopped by my school right away. I was the first stop he made when he got on the road,” Knight told On3’s Chad Simmons earlier this month. “I know they want me.”
Alabama’s push for Knight isn’t out of the blue, either. DeBoer and the four-star are familiar with one another and the new skipper in Tuscaloosa is making it clear that the QB is going to be a top priority for the Tide this cycle.
“This is a relationship that has gone for a long time. Coach DeBoer coached (Knight’s) brother at Indiana for a year when he was the offensive coordinator. They’ve known each other since I think Deuce was in the seventh or eight grade, the relationship goes back that far,” Alabama insider Andrew Bone said on ‘The Inside Scoop.’
Notre Dame still in position to keep Knight’s pledge
As of February, Knight only has visits planned with Notre Dame. The return of offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock has only heightened where the Irish sit in the eyes of the four-star. Dethroning ND in the race for Knight will be tough, but Bama is among the contenders aiming to do so.
“He said that he talks to Coach DeBoer every other day. He’s still solid with his commitment to Notre Dame, we’re not saying that he’s on flip watch or any of that just yet, but there is interest,” Bone said. “I don’t think he would be speaking to Coach DeBoer on an almost every-day basis if there was no interest.”
Knight is the No. 40 overall prospect and No. 5 QB in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 2 player in Mississippi.
Knight headlines Notre Dame’s top-five recruiting class — which already boasts 17 prospects. He’s one of eight four-stars in the fold and has been a catalyst in helping Marcus Freeman and Co. build a top-notch pledge list with the Early Signing Period still around nine months out.