Kalen DeBoer continuing to find recruiting momentum at Alabama
From the jump, Kalen DeBoer was behind on the recruiting trail upon being named the new head coach at Alabama. Following the departure of Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide’s 2025 pledge list shrunk in a hurry.
As the dust settled and DeBoer built his new staff, however, things began to feel somewhat normal in Tuscaloosa. That’s finally beginning to lead to some recruiting momentum.
Going back to the 2024 class, DeBoer managed to win the sweepstakes for Five-Star Plus+ wide receiver Ryan Williams — the centerpiece signee for the Tide this February. Now, he’s finally adding some pieces to the puzzle in the class of 2025.
Bama has added three commitments this month. Selma (Ala.) Southside four-star athlete and top-75 recruit Derick Smith is the latest to join, as he pledged on Monday afternoon. He follows Denton (Md.) North Caroline four-star ATH Zymear Smith and Saraland (Ala.) four-star defensive lineman Antonio Coleman — who flipped back to the Tide from Auburn.
That momentum doesn’t look to be going anywhere, either. The Tide are coming off a major recruiting weekend that saw over 100 prospects on campus visiting — a change of pace from the Saban era, according to Alabama recruiting insider Tim Watts.
“You could see that they were laying the ground work for what was going to come in March. Courtney Morgan helped, obviously Kalen DeBoer and all these assistants are so active. Off the field personnel guys really get after it, too. They had over 100 guys come the first week — and I don’t ever recall seeing that when Nick Saban was running,” Watts said on ‘The Inside Scoop’.
Coleman flipped back to Alabama on March 2. He isn’t the first to sway in a decision between Auburn and the Tide, but his decision to re-join the fold in T-Town could be a sign of things to come for prospects that quickly decommitted after Saban’s retirement.
Florida State EDGE commit Javion Hilson could be next in line
Cocoa (Fla.) four-star EDGE Javion Hilson made a surprise commitment to Alabama this past December. Less than two months later, he was a part of the mass exodus and flipped from the Tide to Florida State.
The No. 3 EDGE in the 2025 cycle returned to Alabama last weekend. He then told BamaOnLine’s Joseph Hastings that the trip “has him thinking” about his recruitment that he also labeled as “open.” While it won’t be easy to bring him back in the fold, Alabama is certainly re-laying the ground work to make that a real possibility.
“I think that’s the first step — getting him back on campus. Hilson’s been a different bird when it came to his recruitment,” Watts said. “I do believe he’s a guy that you’re gonna be able to influence and sell him on what you’re going to do with him. So I would agree his recruitment is still (open), but a hard guy to pin down.”
Bama still in play for in-state EDGE Zion Grady
Fellow top-75 prospect and former Alabama pledge Zion Grady has also returned to Tuscaloosa following his decommitment on Jan. 17. Georgia, Auburn, Tennessee and Miami are among the many high-profile programs gunning for the Troy (Ala.) Enterprise product.
Defensive line coach Freddie Roach is one of the assistants that was retained and transitioned over from the Saban era. While Grady is still getting to know the new additions alongside DeBoer, he at least has some familiarity with the Bama staff.
“They’re all kind of in the same boat, because they’re getting to know a brand new staff. I will say with Zion, there is a connection with Freddie Roach,” Watts said. “Roach knew who Zion was, they had some kind of relationship, especially just from the in-state angle, that helps them there. I think they’ve got a better chance. Zion liked Alabama when he committed there, he wasn’t a kid that just committed to Alabama because of Nick Saban.”
Grady told On3’s Chad Simmons last month that the Tide remain in play for his pledge as he approaches the most important phase of his recruitment. After taking visits across the coming weeks, the 6-foot-4, 210-pounder is looking to make a decision.