Alabama football isn’t easing up on the quarterback front - and that’s by design. With two quarterbacks already locked into the 2026 recruiting class, the Crimson Tide are doubling down on a strategy that’s worked for them in the past.
The two new names: four-star Jett Thomalla out of Nebraska and three-star Tayden Kaawa from Hawaii. Different coasts, similar mindsets - and both are now part of a QB room that’s being carefully constructed for both depth and competition.
This isn’t uncharted territory for Alabama. The Tide have brought in two quarterbacks in a single class before - most notably in 2017, when they landed both Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones.
That duo ended up rewriting chapters of Alabama’s quarterback history. More recently, in 2023, it was Eli Holstein and Dylan Lonergan joining the fold.
So while the two-QB class might raise eyebrows elsewhere, in Tuscaloosa it’s more of a calculated tradition.
But for head coach Kalen DeBoer, this approach is a bit of a shift. Back in his days at Fresno State, DeBoer did sign two quarterbacks in the 2021 class - Alaka’i Yuen from the junior college ranks and three-star Jaylen Henderson.
Since then, though, it’s been a one-QB-per-class model for him, including during his time at Washington. That’s changed now, and there’s a clear reason why.
“You just don’t know what the future is,” DeBoer said. “We’ve always wanted to have five.
I always felt that recruiting one every year - you know, losing one - you still got four, worst-case scenario. I think that’s obviously tougher and tougher.”
And he’s not wrong. In today’s college football landscape, quarterback rooms are in constant flux.
Between the transfer portal, early NFL declarations, and the natural churn of competition, keeping a deep and talented QB group is more challenging than ever. That’s why Alabama is making sure they’re not caught short.
Heading into the 2026 season, Alabama is expected to have Ty Simpson, Austin Mack, and Keelon Russell still on the roster - all with eligibility remaining after 2025. This season marked the first time since 2022 that Alabama had three scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, a number DeBoer clearly wants to build on.
And the plan doesn’t stop with 2026. Alabama is already eyeing two quarterbacks in the 2027 class, starting with in-state four-star Trent Seaborn. The message is loud and clear: the Tide are stacking talent, and they’re doing it with intention.
As for Thomalla and Kaawa, DeBoer believes he’s landed two quarterbacks who fit the Alabama mold - not just in skillset, but in mentality.
“They both knew that each other was coming. We were very transparent with that,” DeBoer said.
“I love that. I love that they are open to competition.”
That’s a key piece of the puzzle. At Alabama, talent is a given.
But it’s the willingness to compete - not just on Saturdays, but every day in practice - that separates the good from the great. DeBoer sees that in both Thomalla and Kaawa.
“They’re go-getters,” he said. “They bring arm talent, a winning mentality. Competing with the other guys in our program that are really good already, and both of them coming in as freshmen in the same class - here at Alabama, you got to have guys that are going to compete.”
That internal competition is what keeps the Tide rolling. Yes, you want quarterbacks who can lead game-winning drives.
But first, they have to win the day-to-day battles in the film room, in workouts, and on the practice field. DeBoer is betting that this duo is up for the challenge.
So while some programs might hesitate to bring in two quarterbacks in one class - fearing transfers, locker room dynamics, or depth chart drama - Alabama is leaning into it. They’ve done it before.
They’ll do it again. And if history is any indication, it might just produce the next great Alabama quarterback story.