Weekend Notebook: Alabama working the portal, new offers and more visits

The news continues to flow on the Alabama recruiting beat, whether it’s in the transfer portal or high school targets. The Crimson Tide will host at least one transfer portal target this weekend for an official visit. Another has also indicated plans to visit soon after entering the portal on Friday morning.

The contact period is underway which means college coaches, including all the assistants from Alabama, were on the road for spring evaluations. New offers have been extended including one to a Top 10 quarterback who is looking to visit Tuscaloosa soon.

Alabama is also remaining steadfast in its approach to secure summer official visits. Several new additions were added to the OV (official visit) schedule this week including a Top 100 wide receiver, an in-state lineman and a few other out-of-state athletes.

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‘Bama making portal moves

Ed Woods (USA Today)

Alabama isn’t quite finished portal shopping. UA will have one of its targets on campus this weekend for an official visit. Ed Woods, cornerback from Arizona State, will visit with his mom and grandfather. The two-year starter for the Sun Devils had 66 tackles and three forced fumbles during the last two seasons.

“It surprised me actually being from Oakland not a lot of people get recruited by big-time schools,” Woods told BOL earlier this week. “Alabama has a history of developing the best players.”

Woods does not have an offer from Alabama prior to the weekend trip. The Tide staff expects to make the decision upon his arrival which BOL expects is a positive one of the potential transfer. Woods is scheduled to visit Michigan State on Sunday, but those plans can possibly change if Alabama pushes for a quick decision. Alabama appears in a great spot ahead of the visit.

South Alabama linebacker Khalil Jacobs entered the portal on Friday morning. Jacobs entered the portal in January, and he was in the process of scheduling a visit with Alabama before deciding to withdraw his name. Former USA head coach Kane Wommack is now the defensive coordinator at Alabama. He has jumped back in pursuit.

Jacobs registered 56 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, an interception, and three forced fumbles during the 2023 season. He will have two years of eligibility remaining. Jacobs is currently eyeing a visit to Alabama next weekend.

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BOL will continue to monitor any additional news regarding Woods and Jacobs. Alabama will also continue to keep its options open regarding other potential portal targets. The news has been positive thus far with the recent additions of Lou Groza award winner Graham Nicholson (STORY: Alabama adding gamechanger), and sophomore offensive tackle, Kadyn Proctor.

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New offers including Top 100 QB highlight busy week

SMU QB commit Keelon Russell

The Alabama coaching staff has been active this week. Assistant coaches have visited schools across the country as the spring evaluation period is in full swing. Perhaps the biggest news this week happened on Wednesday when SMU QB commitment Keelon Russell (Duncanville, Texas) announced a new offer from Alabama.

This is only the fourth known offer to a quarterback in Alabama’s ’25 class. Offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan conducted an in-person evaluation with Russell on Tuesday. He extended an offer to Russell less than 24 hours later, and BOL can confirm the two-time defending state champion QB has a green light to join the Tide’s class.

“For the first meeting, it went amazing,” Russell told BOL regarding his time with Coach Sheridan. “When he walked into the facility, I already knew it was going to be amazing. I wasn’t nervous at all, but there was a lot of pressure. But I had a great day.”

Russell had 3,483 yards passing (72-percent completion %) with 38 touchdowns and only three interceptions during the 2023 season. He also added 361 yards rushing and six touchdowns. Alabama’s next move is to secure an official visit which is expected. The 6-foot-2.5, 185-pound athlete told BOL it’s possible a visit may happen on May 31 (not set in stone just yet).

Alabama also offered a few defensive linemen in the ’25 class. The list included Charles House, four-star from North Meckenburg High School in Charlotte, Floyd Boucard, three-star from Central HS in Miami, and London Simmons, a sleeper recruit who hails from Hartfield Academy in Flowood, Mississippi. All still need to attend camp this summer for a work-out in front of Coach DeBoer.

“I love how the program is ran, and I love how they develop players as a football player and as a young man,” said Simmons said after receiving the offer from Alabama. He met with Coach Robert Gillespie (area recruiter) on Tuesday before a call with defensive line coach Freddie Roach the following day.

Below are the additional offers that have been revealed this week:
John Turntine, ’26 No. 3 OL from North Crowley HS in Fort Worth, Texas
Jonathan Hatton, ’26 No. 3 RB from Steele HS in San Antonio (BOL interview)
Samuelu Utu, ’26 Top 100 OL from Lutheran in Orange, Calif.
Thomas Wilder, ’26 four-star OL from Green Run HS in Virginia Beach
Parker Pritchett, ’26 three-star OL from Carver HS in Columbus, Ga.

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Alabama securing more official visits

Shekai Mills-Knight Alabama Crimson Tide

More than 30 recruits have confirmed summer official visit dates to Alabama. The list continues to grow by the week as several players informed BOL of their set plans. Derek Meadows, Top 100 WR from Bishop Gorman HS in Las Vegas will return on June 21-23. His father described it as a very smart move by the Crimson Tide to host on the final weekend before the dead period- More on Meadows upcoming visits.

In-state OL and Alabama legacy Mal Waldrep from Central High School in Phenix City, also scheduled an official visit. Waldrep will visit Alabama on June 7-9. He was originally set to visit Auburn that weekend before a two-hour meeting with Alabama OL coach Chris Kapilovic on Tuesday. Waldrep spoke more about his meeting with Coach Kap and high interest in the Tide- HERE

“I like how they are traditionally, a winning program,” Waldrep said. “They are in the SEC, obviously. Alabama has been the standard as long as I can remember even now after Coach Saban retired. I think Coach DeBoer will step into the role and do really well.”

A few others who confirmed official visit dates this week include Shekai Mills-Knight, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound running back from Baylor School in Chattanooga (6/7) and Todd Robinson, a 6-foot, 185-pounds athlete from Valdosta High School in Georgia. Knight met with Coach Gillespie earlier this week- interview with BOL post-meeting. Robinson is recruited by Alabama as a defensive back. Both recruits visited Tuscaloosa earlier this spring.

One to watch elsewhere: Alabama ‘Wolf’ target Dawson Merritt will take an official visit to Nebraska this weekend. Merritt had originally planned to visit the Cornhuskers in June, but after visiting Alabama last weekend he decided to move the date. A decision could possibly happen soon. Merritt spoke in-depth with BOL on his recent visit with the Tide-HERE.

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