Kalen DeBoer’s latest recruiting surge is giving Alabama plenty of momentum in the 2028 cycle, and one of the biggest names at the top of the board is already talking like the Crimson Tide are the team to beat.
Five-star defensive lineman Tyzon Swann, a standout from Indian Head, Maryland, has Alabama in front after the program ramped back up its efforts for 2028. Swann didn’t leave much room for interpretation when asked where things stand.
"[They're] number one, for sure," he told @BOL_On3.
Swann is one of the premier prospects in the class and ranks No. 10 overall in the 2028 composite. His stock took off after a massive sophomore season that featured 50 tackles-for-loss and 16 sacks, production that helped push him into five-star territory.
He’s drawing attention from a long list of major programs, including Florida, Ohio State, Auburn, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Texas, among many others. Maryland will also remain part of the picture as his recruitment unfolds.
Alabama’s position with Swann fits the broader picture in this cycle. After signing elite classes in 2025 and 2026, the Crimson Tide eased off in 2027 because there wasn’t much room for another big freshman group.
That approach is now changing. In 2028, Alabama is back in full swing and currently sits No. 1 in the composite rankings with seven commitments.
Three of those commitments are already inside the Top 150: quarterback Kingston Preyear, EDGE Tysir Young, and offensive lineman Anthony Blalock Jr. The Tide are also in strong shape with other top targets, including in-state five-stars Joey Fleming at offensive line and Nehemiah McCary at linebacker.
Swann would be a natural fit for Kane Wommack’s defense. He has the frame to grow into a defensive tackle, though he could also end up at Bandit depending on how his body develops over the next couple of years. Alabama may view him as the kind of Bandit/DT hybrid it hopes USC transfer Devan Thompkins can become this season.
The Tide are comfortable with the defensive line group they landed in 2026, and that’s part of why they haven’t pushed quite as hard at the position in 2027. That appears set to change again in 2028.
Wommack has recently emphasized the need for difference-makers up front, and Alabama has spent the offseason trying to find and develop them. If the Tide can finish this one off, Swann would stand as the most elite high school defensive lineman Alabama has signed in the DeBoer era so far.
It’s early, and there’s still a long road ahead before the early signing period next December. But for now, Alabama is in a strong spot.
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What stands out for Alabama is how much of this battle is still about the details, not just raw talent. Grubb has been pleased with the progress and maturity of Dear and Brown, especially as the group works through the finer points of the position, including learning the offense and handling blocking responsibilities consistently. With so many backs competing for snaps, the next step may come down to who can make the biggest strides in the parts of the game that keep trust in the huddle. [Read more 🡒]