Kalen DeBoer and Alabama may be on the verge of flipping one of Auburn’s recent recruiting wins, and this one comes with a little extra sting for the Tigers.
Cedrick Simmons, the in-state wide receiver who committed to Auburn on July 23, is now trending toward Alabama after On3 recruiting expert Steve Wiltfong logged a prediction Tuesday for the Crimson Tide to land him, according to the Rivals Prediction Machine.
That would mark a quick turn for Simmons, who had been viewed as an Auburn victory after growing up as a fan of Alabama. A few weeks later, the momentum has swung hard the other way.
The numbers help explain why both programs wanted him so badly. Simmons is a consensus 3-star prospect and the No. 588 player overall in the composite rankings, but his production at Southside High School in Selma looks nothing like a mid-tier ranking. As a junior, he piled up 2,192 receiving yards on 106 catches with 20 touchdowns.
Alabama had already made a strong push before Auburn got him on campus. Simmons took an official visit to Tuscaloosa on June 12, and the Crimson Tide seemed to be in strong position after that trip. Auburn’s visit the following weekend changed the picture, and Simmons eventually chose the Tigers.
Now Alabama appears to be back in the driver’s seat after the Tide had seemingly moved on to 3-star Florida native Kyren Caldwell. Maryland then stepped in with a significant offer that pulled Caldwell to the DMV, and DeBoer’s staff circled back to Simmons as a result. He now looks close to joining Alabama’s 2027 class.
The timing is interesting, though probably not connected, with 5-star wide receiver Monshun Sales set to announce his commitment Friday. Rumors have pointed to Indiana and Texas as the likely finalists, with Alabama apparently on the outside looking in.
Even if the Sales pursuit doesn’t break Alabama’s way, Simmons would still give the Tide another dynamic piece at receiver alongside 4-star commitment Osani Gayles. He’s not the biggest target, but the tape shows a player with real big-play ability at the college level.
For Alabama, a flip here would be a welcome boost in a 2027 class that has left some fans wanting more. DeBoer is already moving quickly on the 2028 cycle, and this class was always expected to be smaller by design. Still, landing a recruiting win over Auburn - and Comrade Golesh - would count as a pretty clean piece of business.
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Ryan Grubb has already shown confidence in Lloyd during spring camp, and Alabamas recent history offers a useful backdrop for what comes next. Cam Robinson, Jonah Williams, Alex Leatherwood and Evan Neal all arrived with major expectations as five-star tackles, then grew into NFL draft picks after their time in Tuscaloosa. The question now is whether Lloyd can follow that same path quickly enough to steady an offensive line that will need new answers almost everywhere else. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Just Sent A Strong Message Ahead Of SEC Media Days
Kalen DeBoer is set to take the stage at SEC Media Days next summer in Tampa, where Alabama will begin offering a clearer picture of what the Crimson Tide look like heading into a new season. He will be joined by wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams, safety Bray Hubbard and cornerback Zabien Brown, a group that says plenty about where the program sees its leadership coming from on both sides of the ball.
The trio also gives Alabama a chance to spotlight players who could help define the next step under DeBoer, from Coleman-Williams trying to build on a promising start to his career to Hubbard and Brown bringing experience and production to the secondary. There will be no shortage of attention on the quarterback situation as well, which only adds to the intrigue around which voices Alabama is choosing to put front and center in Tampa. [Read more 🡒]