Alabama Defensive Big Board 3.0: Where things currently stand in the Tide’s class
Many expected Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer to recruit very well on the offensive side of the ball. It’s been much better than anticipated with the players who have committed, and others, which includes a few five-stars, who appear heavily trending in the Crimson Tide’s direction.
Alabama Offensive Big Board 3.0: Where things currently stand in the Tide’s class
So what about the defense? For a while it seemed like linebacker was the only position where the Tide could add any talent. That changed drastically during the summer especially after official visits. Alabama secured key targets at ‘Wolf’ and in the defensive backfield.
Below is a look at the updated Alabama Big ‘Defensive and Special Teams’ Board (+ known remaining targets) for Coach DeBoer and the No. 2 ranked recruiting class in the country per the On3 Sports Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.
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Defensive line (4-5)
Justus Terry (#0) with several Alabama players during official visit
NameHigh School RankingContendersUA Official VisitDecision Date HighlightsAntonio ColemanSaraland (Ala.)4-star, No. 12 DLUA commit6/21/243/2/24CLICK HERELondon SimmonsHartfield Academy (Flowood, Miss.)3-star, No. 39 DLUA commit6/14/246/16/24CLICK HERESteve Mboumoua Southwest Miss JuCoNR (recently added to JuCo)UA commit12/8/23 (can return for another OV)12/20/23CLICK HEREJustus TerryManchester HS (Ga.)5-star, No. 2 DLUA, UGAJune 21-23TBDCLICK HEREFloyd Boucard Central HS (Miami)3-star, No. 44 DLUA, Miami, OU, USCJune 21-237/20/24CLICK HERE
Quick thoughts: This remains one of the most intriguing groups for the Crimson Tide. It seems this way every year on the defensive front, but in reality there has been a lot of success on the interior in recent years. ‘Why can’t Alabama ever seem to land the five-star DL?’ 1. They do- James Smith, who was ranked No. 1, signed with the Tide in ’23. 2. Many of the top players are receiving heavy NIL packages. You sign who you can, but also don’t settle.
Alabama targets players it wants-and sometimes more emerge during the fall of a player’s senior season (Christian Barmore). Schools can also shift its focus to the transfer portal if it doesn’t find someone its likes from the HS ranks. It’s an area where Coach DeBoer/Courtney Morgan have been known to focus rather than offering the next available player from their time at Washington.
(Antonio) Coleman has been a fun recruitment from the fall commitment to Alabama, a flip to Auburn in December, and flip back to Alabama in March. He also has returned to Auburn a few times including an official visit in June. Coleman, however, appears solid with his status with Alabama at this time.
Simmons was a pleasant surprise of UA. He received an offer during the spring evaluation period, and also attended camp in early June before returning for an official visit. The 6-foot-3, 315-pound lineman had 15 sacks as a junior. Still a little bit under the radar as far as a HS ranking, but that’s been standard with many players from the state of Mississippi through the years.
Alabama signed Mboumoua in December, but he will spend a semester at Southwest Community College in Mississippi before enrolling at the Capstone. The 6-foot-4, 280-pound lineman is viewed as a likely ‘Bandit’ for the Crimson Tide. For more on Mboumoua’s short detour-CLICK HERE
The remaining options are limited. (Floyd) Boucard will announce his decision next week. There are connections to UA after playing at Mobile Christian during his junior season after moving to the U.S. from Canada. He played with freshman linebacker Sterling Dixon. There are some NIL heavy hitters involved with Boucard who aren’t taking no for an answer. Still in discussion mode with all contenders mentioned above, but this does not seem trending in the Tide’s direction.
Alabama has been a top school for Terry since the start of his recruitment. He named UA in the top two along with UGA earlier this year before surprising many with a commitment to USC. He de-committed from the Trojans in June, and returned to Tuscaloosa for an official visit on June 21-23. Alabama is making things interesting as this has circled back to a battle between the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs. A decision is ‘possible’ before the season. Alabama would love to get him back on campus for the cook-out.
BOL will continue to monitor any additional DL who may emerge during the fall, or others who may decide to visit who may have previously announced decisions elsewhere.
Wolf (2)
Justin Hill takes official visit to Alabama
NameHigh SchoolRankingContendersUA Official VisitDecision DateHighlights Justin HillWinton Woods HS (Cincinnati)Top 100, No. 6 EDGEUA commitJune 14-167/3/24CLICK HEREDawson MerrittBlue Valley (Overland Park, Kansas)4-star, No. 13 EDGEUA commitJune 7-96/26/24CLICK HERE
Quick thoughts: The fact Alabama was fortunate to land its top ‘Wolf’ targets in the ’25 class is sensational for the new staff. There were previous relationships with Merritt offered by Coach DeBoer last fall (Washington) and Hill, who visited UA twice before the new staff arrived. These were still statement wins for the Crimson Tide on the recruiting trail.
Hill was perhaps the most significant win of the cycle, thus far, as Alabama went into the Buckeye State to steal a priority target away from Ohio State. Oregon and USC were also high on the list. Many on the Buckeyes’ side had previously predicted Hill to join the class only to see him announce a decision for the defending SEC Champions. Hill mentioned how NIL offers increased from elsewhere (did not specify where) before the commitment to Alabama.
Merritt was another big win for the Tide as he jumped on board the week prior to Hill. He completely focused on two programs after spring visits, Alabama and Nebraska. Coach Matt Rhule and the Cornhuskers pressed hard to entice Merritt, but came up just short of the connection he built with the new staff led by outside linebackers coach Christian Robinson.
MUST-READ: Inside recruitment of Alabama commit Dawson Merritt via 5x Super Bowl Champion
Alabama will need to continue recruiting both players until the early signing period (December 4) as others won’t stop pursuing until the end of the cycle. The Tide was aiming for 1-2 ‘Wolfs’ in the class. It landed its two, and has halted discussions with ‘other’ potential players at the position- which really actually happened after Merritt (privately) committed before the announcement.
Inside linebacker (4-5)
Ty Jackson Alabama Crimson Tide
NameHigh SchoolRankingContendersUA Official VisitDecision DateHighlightsDuke JohnsonDodge County HS (Eastman, Ga.)Top 100, No. 2 ATHUA commitJune 7-93/20/24CLICK HEREJaedon HarmonRome HS (Ga.)4-star, No. 13 LBUA commitJune 7-94/14/24CLICK HEREAbduall SandersMater Dei HS (Santa Ana, Calif.)4-star, No. 33 LBUA commitJune 21-233/21/24CLICK HERELuke MetzMill Creek HS (Hoschton, Ga.)4-star, No. 37 LBUA commitJune 21-233/24/24CLICK HERETy JacksonSeminole Ridge HS (Loxhatcheee, Fla.)Top 100, No. 1 LBAla, UGA, UF, FSU, othersJune 21-2312/4/24CLICK HERE
Quick thoughts: The running joke during the spring was if Alabama was ever going to receive a commitment from another position besides linebacker. Four out of five commitments between 3/20-4/14 were all inside linebackers. Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack found the players he liked early in the recruiting process, and racked up the early commitments.
The stacked linebacker class didn’t just shut down their recruitment after decisions. All took official visits elsewhere in June. Johnson traveled to Auburn and UCF. Harmon took an official to Ohio State, Sanders visited Tennessee and Metz spent a weekend in Athens (UGA). Alabama remains in a great position with all with Harmon, Johnson and Metz set to return for the cook-out on July 28.
There isn’t much concern regarding any of these players heading into the season, but with four commitments the expectation is others will try to use against the Tide. Metz received an offer from Georgia in late May, and was pressed hard to flip by Kirby Smart and Glenn Schumman. He shut down things after the OV to Alabama on the final weekend before the dead period.
Alabama is in a great spot with its linebacker class, but there’s still one more target who remains- Ty Jackson. The head-hunter has visited Alabama three times since March, and he is (at the very least) expected to return in the fall for an official visit. Alabama is in the race, one that will not end until December.
(The Tide also still had a commitment from Myles Johnson who decommitted after not having much contact with the new staff, and announced his commitment to Florida earlier this week-Wish him well)
Defensive backs (3-4)
Alabama pledge Derick Smith during his official visit to Tuscaloosa.
NameHigh SchoolRankingContendersUA Official VisitDecision DateHighlights Dijon LeeMission Viejo HS (Calif.)5-star, No. 4 CBUA commitJune 21-236/28/24CLICK HEREDerick SmithSouthside HS (Selma, Ala.)Top 100, No. 2 SUA commitMay 31-June 23/11/24CLICK HEREChuck McDonaldMater Dei HS (Santa Ana, Calif.)Top 100, No. 8 CBUA commitMay 31-June 26/8/24CLICK HERENa’eem OffordParker HS (Birmingham)5-star, No. 2 CBOhio State commitJune 7-92/4/24CLICK HERE
Quick thoughts: Alabama signed the best defensive back class in the country in ’24 which included three five-star corners (Jaylen Mbakwe, Zay Mincey, Zabien Brown). The fall roster also includes freshmen safeties Red Morgan and Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. The future in the Tide’s secondary appears bright, and some big pieces were during the summer.
Lee is the headliner of the group. He is one of the top overall players in the class. Lee considered several options, but ultimately chose UA over Georgia. Alabama had been in the driver’s seat since late April. McDonald added Alabama as a top four (UGA, Oregon, USC) contender in his recruitment in May. He had not visited Tuscaloosa since last summer, but one visit was all it took for him to shut down. McDonald returned the following weekend. Both are scheduled to attend the cook-out.
California Love: Bama recruiting at an elite level in The Golden State
Derick Smith was a major in-state win for Coach DeBeor earlier this spring. Some pegged Smith as a lean to Auburn prior to his commitment. The Tigers have continued to pursue, and he took an official visit to the Plains after his OV with the Crimson Tide. Smith maintains his commitment to UA is solid. He will return to Tuscaloosa July 28. Auburn is also pushing to get him to attend Big Cat Weekend. BOL will monitor, and it will not surprise if he visits AU again, but he is not considered on ‘flip watch’.
Alabama recently saw a safety target, Ivan Taylor, flip his commitment from Notre Dame to Michigan. He strongly considered the Tide after a spring, and summer (official) visit. Alabama doesn’t appear in a rush to seek a replacement. It will likely continue recruiting Taylor, and possibly target another in the fall. Alabama is possibly content on its current DB class.
Offord is considered a solid commitment to Ohio State. He did, however, take official visits to Alabama, Auburn and Oregon (in addition to OSU). He was on the UA campus on three separate occasions last month. This is a recruitment closely monitored, not just by the Tide, during the season. There are high expectations in Columbus- failure to meet those goals for Ryan Day will put him directly on the hot seat. It may open the door for Offord, but a long shot at this time.
Let’s not forget: Special Teams (1-ish)
NameHigh School RankingContendersUA Official VisitDecision DateHighlights Alex AsparuhovSan Joaquin Memorial (Frenso, Calf.)3-star, No. 3 punterUA commitJune 14-166/15/24CLICK HEREPeter NotaroNorth Allegheny HS (Pittsburgh, Pa.)Not RankedUA commit (PWO)N/A7/3/24CLICK HERE
Quick thoughts: The Cali connection continued with a commitment from one of the top punters in the country. Asparuhov had a strong showing in June which netted offers from Alabama, Florida and Oklahoma. He took official visits with the Crimson Tide and Gators before announcing a decision for Alabama. The first commitment for first-year special teams coach Jay Nunez (previously at OU).
Notaro also earned an opportunity to join the Alabama team as a preferred walk-on (for now). He is ranked the No. 4 kicker in the country per Kohl’s Kicking (prospect eval).
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