The Alabama Crimson Tide’s recruiting weekend was a huge success, with a massive group of official visitors and some surprise commitments. Kalen DeBoer brought in the big guns, enlisting the help of none other than Nick Saban, who’s considered one of the greatest recruiting closers in college football history.
Saban’s presence was felt, particularly with top recruits Cederian Morgan, Ezavier Crowell, and Anthony “Tank” Jones. Although the extent of his involvement isn’t known, Saban was also spotted attending the funeral service of Keelon Russell’s sister in Mississippi alongside DeBoer and other staff members.
The Crimson Tide landed some key commitments, including:
– JJ Finch: 3-star DL JJ Finch pledged to Alabama, despite being underrated. Finch’s offer list includes top programs like Miami, Michigan, and Tennessee. Finch is a rare athlete for his size, combining power, agility, and an advanced understanding of leverage and hand placement. He’s a disruptor in both the run and pass game, routinely commanding double teams and still managing to make plays in the backfield.
– Javari Barnett: 4-star RB Javari Barnett flipped his commitment from Illinois to Alabama. Barnett is a low four-star or high three-star prospect, depending on the recruiting service, and has a build that could make him a bruiser in the backfield.
– Rihyael Kelley: Safety Rihyael Kelley also flipped his commitment from Rutgers to Alabama. Kelley is a 3-star prospect, and his commitment adds depth to Alabama’s secondary.
In addition to these commitments, Alabama picked up On3 RPMs for four other prospects, including:
– WR Owen Cabell: Cabell earned an offer earlier this month after camping in Tuscaloosa and is now projected to land with the Crimson Tide.
– S Rihyael Kelley: As mentioned earlier, Kelley flipped his commitment from Rutgers to Alabama.
– RB Javari Barnett: Barnett, as mentioned earlier, flipped his commitment from Illinois to Alabama.
– 5-star WR Cederian Morgan: Morgan is one of the top players in the state of Alabama, and his RPM suggests he’ll join the Crimson Tide soon.
The Alabama Crimson Tide’s recruiting momentum is building, with several top targets set to make their commitment decisions by the end of June. With Saban’s involvement and DeBoer’s aggressive recruiting strategy, the Tide is poised to make a significant impact in the 2026 cycle.
Meanwhile, Nate Oats landed a surprise commitment from 4-star center Collins Onyejiaka, who plans to reclassify into the 2025 class and join the team next season. Onyejiaka brings a much-needed big body to the team and will likely play a significant role immediately. He’s a traditional, rim-running athletic center, giving Alabama something they didn’t really have on the roster with Sherrell and Williamson being more stretch-fives than back-to-the-basket bigs.
