Alabama pledge talks commitment status, upcoming Bama OV

A trio of five-stars, several more top-100 prospects, and most of Alabama’s Class of 2025 commitment list will take official visits to The Capstone in the coming weeks.

A weekend that has drawn attention from Crimson Tide fans is that of June 7-9. This will feature official visits from priority offensive lineman target Michael Carroll, ‘Wolf’ target Dawson Merritt, running back Bo Jackson, and a few others.

***UPDATED: Spring/Summer Visitors List***

Another official visitor that weekend will be Darrell “Duke” Johnson, Bama’s highest-rated commitment in their 2025 class. This will mark Johnson’s second trip to Tuscaloosa since joining the fold back on March 20; his previous visit was for their A-Day Game on April 13.

Johnson told BamaOnLine that he’s looking to add to Alabama’s No. 8 recruiting class during his visit.

“I’m looking forward to trying to recruit some new teammates. That’s No. 1,” Johnson told BOL. “We’ve got a lot of guys coming in that are special guys and talented. I’m ready to recruit some more teammates and bring the natty back home.

“Why not play for the best team?” Johnson added of his recruiting pitch. “You have the best fan base. The best coaches to develop you for the NFL.”

His official visit to Alabama is sandwiched between officials to UCF (May 31) and Auburn (June 14). Johnson intends on taking trips to Florida State and Tennessee at some point as well, whether that be the summer or in the season.

Johnson, who speaks with Bama’s Colin Hitschler and Kane Wommack the most, says the staff is well-aware of his plans to visit elsewhere.

“I told Coach Wommack and Coach Hitschler that I’m locked in. I’m not going anywhere,” Johnson said. “But I’m still going to take my visits. Anything can happen. But I told them I’m locked in.”

The top-50 overall rising senior in the On300 dove into the main reasons why he’s staying locked in with Alabama.

“The relationships they’ve got with me and my family,” Johnson said. “Just going up there and seeing how they make me a priority. Sometimes when you commit, you don’t hear from the coaches like that anymore. And it’s like, ‘Why wouldn’t you go to Alabama?’ It’s the best school.”

Along with his official visit, Johnson plans on returning to T-Town for at least one more trip this summer. He’s also making plans to attend two of Bama’s first four games of the season: Western Kentucky (8/31) and Georgia (9/28).

Duke Johnson feels comfortable with Alabama’s new staff

As noted above, Johnson communicates with Hitschler and Wommack the most from Alabama. He is still being recruited as a linebacker, with the coaches letting him know that he’s versatile enough to play ‘Mike,’ ‘Stinger,’ and other spots on the field.

“They’re very cool. We talk almost every day about life, school, football, and fishing,” Johnson said. “We all have a lot in common, so it’s pretty cool vibes from them. I feel very comfortable with the staff. If I didn’t feel comfortable, I wouldn’t have committed. Everybody loves me there. I love them. We’re just all one. I don’t know… it’s just something about Alabama.”

Both Hitschler and Wommack paid Johnson a visit at Dodge County High School in Eastman (Ga.) back on May 9. They discussed Alabama’s “Swarm D” defense, and the effectiveness of that 4-2-5 scheme with how versatile it is.

Johnson has developed strong relationships with Bama’s new coaches.

“It’s been good,” Johnson said of his relationship with Hitschler. “He was the first person on the new staff that reached out to me. They all watched my film again, and they all loved my film. We talk a lot. We’ll be on the phone, FaceTime. He’s chill, he’s cool. He’s a good dude. I like him.

Alabama commit Darrell “Duke” Johnson with Bama coaches Colin Hitschler (left) and Kane Wommack (right).

“Coach Wommack, we’re cool, too,” Johnson continued. “He talks with my mom, too. We’re just all getting along very well. I feel like they’re going to be great coaches for me.”

Head coach Kalen DeBoer makes it a priority to check in with him from time to time as well, including after a recent camp that Johnson attended.

“Him and I are just cool,” Johnson said of DeBoer. “We always talk with each other. He calls me, or I call him. Just very locked in, too.”

Johnson has seen the coaches at his school a couple of times and has been on campus twice since their arrival, so both sides are becoming familiar with one another.

The coaches have delivered the following message to Johnson, who is the No. 2 athlete in the 2025 cycle.

“Just keep working,” Johnson said. “Don’t be comfortable. Come in like your hair’s on fire, like you want to play. Like you’re not going to sit on the bench your freshman year. Go in and earn it. With that message, I’m a dog. So, I’m going to eat. I’m going to go there and try to start my freshman year. I’ll do everything I can to get on the field so everybody can see me.

“Their coaching style, it’s just fast,” Johnson added. “I love the way they coach. It’s calm, it’s fast. They’ll cuss you out, then they’ll love you up. All that. I like that, that’s how it is in high school right now.”

Bama’s defensive class is one that’s generating excitement

Coming off his first visit to Alabama of the year, Johnson said he was “blown away” by the experience, while noting that the previously established culture remained intact. He was committed the second time around, and he got to see the team in a scrimmage while being surrounded by 70,000-plus fans at Bryant Denny-Stadium.

“When I wasn’t committed, I was just going up there to see if Alabama was going to be the same after Nick Saban left. And it was,” Johnson said. “Everybody got after it. The offense looked so much better. [Jalen] Milroe, you can tell he’s comfortable back there. He’s a leader, and he was slinging the ball.

“And after I committed, I got to see the offense and defense at the A-Day Game,” Johnson continued. “Bama is going to be very good this year, I feel like.”

Since the start of March, the Tide have landed commitments from seven prospects on the defensive side of the ball, Johnson included. He’s joined in this class by fellow Peach State linebackers Jaedon Harmon and Luke Metz, West Coast backer Abduall Sanders, cornerback Zymear Smith, and Alabama-based recruits Antonio Coleman, Derick Smith, and Myles Johnson.

Johnson is impressed by the group that’s being put together.

“I’m loving how our defensive class is,” Johnson said. “We all can play different positions on the field. We’re all athletic, versatile. We’ve got speed, and we’re not scared to tackle. Our defense is going to be good for sure. Everybody is locked in.”

Ahead of his upcoming official visit schedule, Johnson will head to Nashville for the On3 Elite Series from May 28-30. It’s an invitation-only event for elite 2025 football prospects, with the purpose of educating and informing high school athletes how to safely and successfully navigate the NIL era.

Derick Smith will also join Johnson in Nashville for the coveted event.

“I’m looking forward to meeting new people, having a good time, and enjoying myself,” Johnson said. “Learn NIL and all that. It’s pretty cool. They’re bringing people who just left college ball or are still playing. You can learn from them and ask questions that you’re not sure of yet.”

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