When Kalen DeBoer arrived at Alabama in January of 2024, the obvious question was whether he could recruit at the level the job demands in the Southeastern Conference. Two years later, the answer is sitting right there in the roster.
The Crimson Tide kept enough key pieces in place to stabilize the transition, with receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams and Zabien Brown among the players who stuck around and became important parts of the last two seasons. Then came the recruiting hauls that changed the conversation entirely: Alabama signed the No. 3 overall class in 2025 and followed it with the No. 2 overall group for the 2026 cycle.
That first full class under DeBoer and Alabama general manager Courtney Morgan is about to take center stage in a big way during the 2026 season.
A number of those 2025 signees already flashed in a major way last season. Offensive lineman Michael Carroll, tight end Kaleb Edwards, defensive lineman London Simmons and cornerback Dijon Lee Jr. all made immediate impacts in the 2025-26 season and were rewarded with SEC All-Freshman honors.
Now the spotlight only gets brighter. Carroll, Lee and Edwards are among the names expected to be front and center this fall, and several others from that class are positioned to step into starting roles as well.
Former five-star quarterback Keelon Russell is in that group, along with former four-star offensive lineman Jackson Lloyd, who is set to start at left tackle. Former four-star tight ends Kaleb Edwards and Marshall Pritchett, former three-star receiver Lotzeir Brooks, former three-star linebacker Luke Metz and three-star punter Alex Asparuhov are also slated for key roles.
And the opportunities do not stop there for the 2025 class. Former four-star receiver Derek Meadows, former four-star EDGE Justin Hill, former four-star safety Ivan Taylor, former four-star cornerback Chuck McDonald, former three-star linebacker Abduall Sanders Jr., former three-star defensive lineman London Simmons and former three-star offensive lineman Mal Waldrep Jr. are also expected to see plenty of action this fall.
Morgan said the process behind building those classes has been deliberate.
"That is a testament to us taking the time to evaluate the right people," Alabama general manager Courtney Morgan said while on the 'Hey Coach' show last week. "And not take risks with the money that we are being responsible to spend on talent from the university.
I think there is a narrative that 'oh, Alabama doesn't have money or Alabama doesn't want to pay players'. I think we just really take our time and choose the right people.
That is really what we are sticking to. It is something that the whole athletic department values."
A full breakdown of the 16 names listed above follows as Alabama heads into its season opener against East Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 11 a.m. on ABC.
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