Alabama Crimson Tide news and notes from Friday through Sunday, July 18th through July 20th:
4-star Edge Jaquez Wilkes not expected to choose Alabama
4-star edge Jaquez Wilkes, an Alabama native, will announce his college decision on Monday. He is not expected to choose the Crimson Tide. Wilkes canceled his summer official visit to Tuscaloosa and hasn’t visited since April. All signs are pointing toward the Top 100 prospect choosing rival Auburn, instead.
Alabama has gone in a different direction for Edge rushes in this class. The Tide holds commitments from 4-stars Jamarion Matthews and Kamhariyan Johnson already, and are making a major push for 5-star Mobile native Anthony ‘Tank’ Jones, who is expected to commit this month or next.
4-star QB is expected to choose Alabama
Wilkes has trended away from Alabama, but recruiting giveth at the same time it taketh away. 4-star QB Tayden Kaawa from Oren, Utah will also make his commitment known on Monday. He is expected to pick Alabama, with more predictions rolling in on Sunday for the QB to land in Alabama’s class.
Kalen DeBoer and Alabama already hold a commitment from 4-star QB Jett Thomalla in this class. They flipped Thomalla from Iowa State last month, but have aggressively pursued a second QB in the 2026 cycle due to depth concerns in the room. Kaawa will give them a second QB, and another developmental QB for DeBoer and OC Ryan Grubb to work with.
Alabama picked to finish 3rd in the SEC; lands 11 on All-SEC teams
The SEC released the media predictions for the league’s order of finish and preseason All-SEC teams on Friday at the conclusion of SEC Media Days. Alabama was projected to finish third, behind Texas and Georgia in the league standings. Of the 204 media members polled, 29 predicted the Crimson Tide to win the SEC.
Alabama landed 11 on the three preseason All-SEC teams, but for the first time since the inception of SEC Media Days in 1985, did not have a defensive player on the preseason All-SEC 1st Team. Below are the Tide players on the three teams:
1st: WR Ryan Williams, OT Kadyn Proctor
2nd: C Parker Brailsford, OG Jaedan Roberts, DL Tim Keenan III, DL LT Overton, LB Deontae Lawson, CB Domani Jackson
3rd: RB Jam Miller, S Keon Sabb, S Bray Hubard
Ryan Williams signs an NIL deal with Nike
Star sophomore WR Ryan Williams inked an NIL deal with Nike on Friday, becoming just the second college football player to sign a deal with the legendary brand. He joins former Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders, who signed with Nike a year ago.
Williams became an instant star as a true freshman with the Crimson Tide last year, scoring touchdowns the first two times he touched the ball in the season opener, and then producing perhaps the play of the season to beat Georgia a few weeks later. Williams has worked hard this offseason to take a bigger leap in year two, and he should be one of the most impactful players in the country this season.
Chris Youngblood inching closer toward a two-way contract
After going undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft, former Alabama guard Chris Youngblood has made the most of his opportunity in the Summer League with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He’s shot 45% from three-point range on 5.7 attempts per game, showing the 3-and-D potential that is always coveted by NBA teams.
Youngblood was recently listed as one of the standouts in Summer League, and many believe he will ultimately land the Thunder’s final two-way roster spot. If OKC passes him over for someone else, Youngblood has shown enough in Las Vegas the last two weeks to earn a two-way contract from someone else.
