BREAKING: Alabama Confirms Another Big 4-star Commits
This summer, Alabama Football has focused on massive recruiting weekends, with commitments swiftly following. Recently, Kalen DeBoer secured a commitment from a highly touted punter, setting the tone for a weekend full of strong impressions on top players. While the upcoming weekend is particularly significant, the Tide are already gaining positive momentum with numerous talented prospects visiting campus. Alabama is trending in the right direction as the summer progresses.
Can Kalen DeBoer flip a trio of top commits?
This summer, Kalen DeBoer has already made a significant move by flipping Keelon Russell from SMU. Now, DeBoer is targeting three other elite recruits: Akylin Dear, Harry Dalton III, and Marshall Pritchett.
Akylin Dear is the highest-profile of the trio, ranked by On3 as the 2nd best running back and the 30th overall recruit in his class. Although he committed to in-state Ole Miss in March, Dear visited Alabama this weekend, potentially gaining some momentum. Daniel Hill and Ryan Williams provided significant support to Robert Gillespie during the visit.
🐘@BAMACoachG @d1danny3 pic.twitter.com/c5vJAUSI2s
— ᴀᴋʏʟɪɴ(AK)ᴅᴇᴀʀ⭐️ (@akylin3) June 16, 2024
Harry Dalton III’s visit to Alabama this weekend was unexpected, as he committed to USC in April, choosing them over Alabama and other schools. On3 ranks Dalton as the 20th best running back and the 243rd overall player in his class. While Alabama has seemingly prioritized other running backs like Akylin Dear over Dalton, maintaining these connections could prove beneficial.
The final committed visitor this weekend was North Carolina tight end commit Marshall Pritchett. The three-star recruit is ranked as the 26th best tight end and the 469th overall player in his class. Alabama made a strong impression on Pritchett and remains optimistic about their standing with four-star tight end Nick Townsend.
Kalen DeBoer and Alabama land a pair of commitments
Alabama Football secured a commitment early in the weekend from punter Alex Asparuhov, ranked by Kohl’s Kicking as the nation’s third-best punter.
Although this move may not generate as much buzz as some of this summer’s other commitments, it provides Kalen DeBoer with a solid succession plan for when James Burnip departs.
🐘🐘🐘🐘!! pic.twitter.com/4ci7jddLTH
— Coach Freddie Roach (@freddierch8) June 16, 2024
Late on Sunday, the team also received a commitment from three-star defensive tackle London Simmons. On3 ranks Simmons as the 60th best defensive tackle in the nation and the 15th best player in Mississippi. Despite his three-star ranking, the coaching staff expressed their excitement online, indicating how highly they value Simmons.
Tide makes a strong impression on Justin Hill
Four-star Wolf target Justin Hill having a good time during his official visit.
🎥 Justin Hill / Instagram pic.twitter.com/vsCr7ky1RG
— Jack Knowlton (@JackKnowlton_) June 15, 2024
The Alabama Football team is competing with the Ohio State Buckeyes to secure a commitment from Ohio native Justin Hill. Hill, a four-star edge rusher, is ranked by On3 as the nation’s 7th-best edge rusher and the 52nd-best player in his class. Alabama has made a strong push to land Hill, with Jaylen Mbakwe and Ryan Williams playing crucial roles in the recruiting effort.
Alabama Football: Who’s on Commitment Watch?
Leaving this recruiting weekend, Alabama seems to be at or near the top for several recruits. Entering the weekend, Bama had a strong chance to secure a commitment from four-star offensive tackle Jackson Lloyd, and they remain in a favorable position. Lloyd, a top priority for this class, was the first player Kalen DeBoer offered upon taking the job. Additionally, Alabama appears to be the favorite in the recruitment of top-100 linebacker Dawson Merritt. With visits to Nebraska and Alabama completed, a commitment from Merritt could happen soon.