DEAL DONE: Alabama land huge 5-star commitment from transfer portal
Alabama’s recruiting efforts have been outstanding this summer, securing 14 of their 22 verbal commitments since June 1st. During this period, the Tide has gone from having no 5-star commitments to boasting five of the nation’s top prospects, addressing earlier concerns among fans.
Quarterback Keelon Russell, wide receiver Caleb Cunningham, offensive linemen Ty Haywood and Michael Carroll, and cornerback Dijon Lee are all rated as 5-stars by at least one of the major recruiting services. These five 5-star recruits have propelled Alabama to the top of the national rankings, with the No. 1 recruiting class according to the On3 Industry ranking.
While Alabama’s recruiting momentum has been building for several months, it was not long ago that questions arose about when Kalen DeBoer would secure a 5-star recruit. That narrative has now been completely overturned by Bama’s recent recruiting surge.
Ty Haywood is Alabama’s highest-rated commit according to the industry average, receiving 5-star ratings from both On3 and 247Sports and ranking as a top-21 player overall by all services. Caleb Cunningham, meanwhile, is ranked no lower than 23rd across the board and is a 5-star recruit according to 247Sports.
Dijon Lee, one of the nation’s top cornerbacks, is ranked 50th overall by On3 but is in the top 31 according to other services, with a 5-star rating from 247Sports. Keelon Russell, who committed in early June, recently earned his 5th star and is ranked as a top-50 player and a top-6 quarterback overall, with 247Sports rating him as the 10th-best player nationally and ESPN naming him the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback for the 2025 cycle.
Michael Carroll has seen the most variance in his rankings. Committing early in June, his stock has risen significantly since then. Rivals ranks him as the 185th-best player nationally and the 20th-best interior offensive lineman, while ESPN has him unranked nationally and the 12th-best player in Pennsylvania. In contrast, On3 ranks Carroll as the 12th-best player in the country, the top interior offensive lineman in the class, and a 5-star recruit.
The consensus is that On3 and 247Sports are ahead in their evaluations, while Rivals and ESPN may be slower to update their rankings. However, Carroll’s upward trend and recognition by leading experts suggest he is a borderline top-10 player.
These five standout recruits headline a deep and talented class assembled by Coach DeBoer and his staff this offseason. Although the Tide’s 2025 recruiting efforts are not yet complete, their achievements this summer have been remarkable.