Alabama Football Recruiting Central
Keep track of all the latest Alabama football recruiting news from key visits, new offers and official visits. The Crimson Tide is on the recruiting trail this week visiting several priority targets. Be sure to follow the visitor tracker on the Talk of Champions for the latest news on in-home visits!
CLICK HERE for in-home visitor nuggets!
The Updated Alabama BIG BOARD
The Uncommitted Targets (no particular order)
Five-star EDGE Keon Keeley:
The elite pass rusher has kept things tight-lipped for the last two months. He may, however, tipped his hand a little after he attended Alabama’s final regular season game against Auburn in the Iron Bowl. Alabama may hold the lead, but Ohio State and Florida will continue to pursue until the end.
Alabama has treated Keeley as a priority target since receiving an offer from Nick Saban in January. The relationships with coaches and Tide commitments are playing a big role. Will Anderson, who just won the Bronco Naguski Award (as the nation’s best defensive player) for the second year in a row, is also a helpful recruiting tool.
Current Forecast: Alabama is in a really good position with Keeley. The Crimson Tide is the team to beat heading into the final two weeks. A decision may happen before the Early Signing Period. Alabama leads Ohio State according to the On3 Sports Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM).
On3 recruiting reporters dish on where things stands with the Tide’s top remaining targets
Five-star defensive lineman James Smith, Five-star Linebacker Qua Russaw:
Florida DL commit Kelby Collins provides update on Alabama’s pursuit
Florida’s coaching staff has continued to make Collins a priority as an assistant saw him on Saturday and multiple coaches, including head man Billy Napier, had an in-home with him on Tuesday.
Earlier this week, Roach made his way out to Gardendale to get his chance to meet with Collins.
“It was good. It went good,” Collins said of his time with Roach. “We just talked about them still wanting me. I’m still a priority for them. We just really chopped it up. Talked about some stuff outside of football. Just regular day stuff.”
So what is Alabama’s main recruiting pitch to Collins? Will he take an official visit to Alabama?
Thursday Scoop: Alabama visiting Texas DB and five-star OL recruit
Alabama to host transfer for an official visit
An unexpected official visitor will be making his way out to Alabama in the coming days.
BamaInsider has confirmed that Maryland tight end transfer CJ Dippre will officially visit with the Crimson Tide this week. The exact date for the trip is not yet known, but it should transpire later in the week.
It is important to note that Bama has yet to offer Dippre. Tight ends coach Joe Cox did, however, see Dippre earlier this week.
During his 2022 campaign, the 6-foot-5, 260-pounder hauled in 30 receptions for 314 yards, an average of just over 10 yards per reception. Dippre also had a trio of touchdowns in 12 games of action.
Since entering the transfer portal, Dippre has collected offers from Illinois, N.C. State, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Rutgers, South Carolina, Syracuse, USF, and West Virginia. According to Ethan McDowell of The Wolfpacker, Dippre plans on making a decision by the beginning of January.
Dippre, who is a native of Scranton (Penn.), has two years of eligibility remaining.
CLICK HERE to read about Alabama’s top tight end targets!
Alabama WR commit Jalen Hale is “locked in” with the Crimson Tide
Alabama head coach Nick Saban made several stops to begin the first full week of the contact period. On Monday, Saban met with several Alabama commits and targets, those being Arion Carter, Jalen Hale, Jordan Renaud, and Ty Lockwood.
During his stop at Hale’s house, Saban was accompanied by wide receivers coach Holmon Wiggins. The two coaches not only caught up with Hale, but they also spent time with his father, Courtney.
Courtney Hale spoke with BamaInsider about their conversation with Saban and Wiggins, Jalen’s commitment status with Alabama, other schools still pushing, and more.
“It was good,” Mr. Hale said of the in-home visit. “We’ve been with those guys a while now with all the visits we’ve been on. I feel like we’ve built a longstanding relationship with them. They came in last night and stayed for quite a while… it was just a good visit.”
Hale checks in as a top-50 prospect and the No. 10 wide receiver on the 2023 On3 Consensus. Prior to his last game, he had recorded 43 receptions for 1,026 yards and 14 touchdowns to that point in his senior season.
Saban is looking forward to adding the productive 6-foot-1, 185-pound pass catcher to Alabama’s roster.
“He talked a little bit about what he expects from Jalen when he comes,” Mr. Hale said. “Letting him know that he has the chance to come in and touch the field. He needs that frame, size, and speed to accommodate what’s coming in. Just basically letting him know to make good choices like he’s been doing… he’s really excited for Jalen to be in the fifth round of the playoffs and get a ring.”
Hale is one key component of a four-wideout class for Alabama, with his future teammates at the position being Cole Adams, Jaren Hamilton, and Malik Benson.
A lot of talent is being added to their receiver corps, but Wiggins believes that Hale can be an early contributor.
“Coach Wiggins was just letting him know that he has a lot of time now — since he’s coming in early — to learn the offense,” Mr. Hale said. “Be able to provide when he comes in. He feels that with Jalen, he still has a lot that he can learn. Jalen feels that when he gets to school, he can learn a lot from Coach Wiggins.
“Jalen has been a good separator from defenders and can high-point the ball,” Mr. Hale added of Wiggins’ message. “With his size and frame, he can come in and get bigger and faster. That would put him in a good position — to accommodate Jermaine [Burton] and the JuCo player [Malik Benson] they’re bringing in — to be the [Jameson Williams] that they need. Wiggins feels like he has a high ceiling to come in and do something with the team off the rip.”
In-state program is still pushing to flip Jalen Hale
Continue reading more on Hale’s commitment status with the Crimson Tide
On3 recruiting experts dish out their takes on Alabama commits’ and targets’ recruitments (Part One)
Alabama RB commit Justice Haynes
Jeremy Johnson, DawgsHQ: “Georgia and Ohio State have not gone away. They’re going to continue to recruit him. They’re going to continue to be on him. [Georgia running backs coach] Dell McGee got to spend time with him this weekend. It’s definitely interesting. But I feel like Alabama is in a good spot to keep him on board. I don’t see that changing any time imminently, but it’s something worth watching.”
BamaInsider’s Take: If Downs was to flip, it would be to Ohio State. If Haynes was to flip, we believe it would be to Georgia. As is the case with our assessment on Downs, we believe that Haynes ultimately sticks it out with the Tide. The newly minted five-star prospect sounded 100 percent locked in with Bama during his conversation with Andrew Bone last month. It was especially telling that Haynes chose to visit for the Iron Bowl rather than joining Downs (a good friend of his) on his trip to Columbus.
“At the end of the day, I am trusting God in this decision,” Haynes told Bone following the visit. “I have trusted him throughout this process. God’s plan for me right now is to go to Alabama. I will let UGA and Ohio State continue recruiting me. I will listen, but I am trusting God’s plan.”
Alabama visits Five-star Plus+ Target
Alabama cornerbacks coach Travaris Robinson visited a Top 25 overall recruit on Monday afternoon. This defensive target is currently committed to another SEC school.
For the latest Alabama football recruiting intel on each remaining target
Ole Miss LB commit Suntarine Perkins opens up about Alabama’s continued pursuit
Top prospects in the state of Alabama and Mississippi have made their way out to Mobile (Ala.) this week. This talented group is gearing up to play in the 36th annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game on Saturday.
Following the first day of practice on Tuesday, coveted Ole Miss linebacker commit Suntarine Perkins dished out the latest in his recruitment.
Perkins spoke with On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power about the latest in Alabama’s pursuit of him.
“I saw Coach [Pete] Golding [on Monday]. He came to the school,” Perkins told Power. “It was good. We talk every day. He always calls me. Checks on me and checks on my family.”
Will Perkins take another visit to Alabama? He answered that question and much more!
CLICK HERE to find out more on Perkins interest in the Tide!
Top 100 DL Jordan Renaud talks in-home visit with Nick Saban
Alabama head coach Nick Saban and area recruiter Holmon Wiggins did the Texas Two-Step on Monday.
Saban and Wiggins made their way out to the Lone Star State to conduct in-home visits with a pair of 2023 commits: Jalen Hale and Jordan Renaud. The coveted prospects out of East Texas committed to Bama within days of each other back in September.
Renaud admitted to being nervous prior to meeting with Saban and Wiggins, but the in-home visit helped to resolve some of those nerves.
“I came in with anxiety,” Renaud told BamaInsider. “I’m thinking about the stigma of Bama and they expect a lot out of you. They said, ‘We’re not expecting a lot out of you. We’re going to get you here, get you acclimated, and take baby steps to get into that.’ That was a good relief for me.”
This will be Renaud’s last time seeing Saban in person before he signs with Alabama on Dec. 21. Renaud, a Florida native who currently lives in Tyler (Tx.), opened up about what Saban said to him on Monday.
Tyler Scott sets commitment date after visiting Crimson Tide
Tyler Scott, three-star cornerback Pebblebrook High School in Mableton, Georgia, took an official visit to Alabama this past weekend.
“What stood out most was meeting with coach T-Rob and coach Saban and hearing them break things down for me,” Scott told On3 Sports national recruiting director Chad Simmons. “They both said they want me and they both said they need me. They showed me how if I come in and work, then I would get on the field. I thought going to Alabama, I would be behind a lot of players, but it is about earning it there. That was my biggest takeaway from the visit. That really opened my eyes.”
The former Arkansas State commitment has taken official visits to Alabama and Auburn. He is scheduled to visit USC this weekend. He will visit Texas on December 16-18. Scott may also return to Auburn for a mid-week official visit after the Tigers added a new head coach, Hugh Freeze. Recruits are allowed to re-visit the school if there is a head coaching change.
Scott will announce his college decision on December 21. CLICK HERE for more Scott’s top schools and where things currently stand in his recruitment.
Alabama commits discuss official visit weekend
Bray Hubbard discusses future position after official visit
Alabama commit Jahlil Hurley loves official visit in T-Town
Out-of-state school working hard to flip Hunter Osborne
Yhonzae Pierre goes in-depth on official visit to Alabama
Justice Haynes expecting visitors this week
Justice Haynes, five-star running back from Buford High School in Georgia, addressed speculation regarding his recruitment last week. The Alabama commitment is still heavily pursued by Georgia and Ohio State. Both schools saw Haynes last week, and will see him again this week. Chad Simmons provided details on the upcoming in-home visits (READ HERE)
“At the end of the day, I am trusting God in this decision,” Haynes told BamaInsider last week. “I have trusted him throughout this process. God’s plan for me right now is to go to Alabama. I will let UGA and Ohio State continue recruiting me. I will listen, but I am trusting God’s plan.
“Every time I have taken another visit or talked to another school it always makes me feel more confident in my decision to go to Alabama.”
Don’t Miss!
Caleb Downs gives the latest on his recruitment after playoff win
Alabama OL commitment Miles McVay talks state title, future in Tuscaloosa
Alabama kicker commit has big shoes to fill
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