Devan Thompkins is starting to look like the kind of player who can climb quickly on draft boards, and Sports Illustrated’s latest mock draft has him going all the way to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 8 overall in the 2027 NFL Draft.
That’s a strong projection for the Alabama defensive lineman, but it lines up with the season he’s putting together. Thompkins transferred to Alabama for his senior year and has turned in the best stretch of his career in 2026, posting 33 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, and a forced fumble. After being solid at USC, he’s taken another step with the Crimson Tide and become one of the most important pieces on their defense.
His value comes from how much he can do up front. Thompkins can line up off the edge or work inside, and that kind of flexibility is exactly what can make a defender attractive near the top of the draft. Alabama will lean on that versatility as it pushes toward a possible National Championship run.
The Crimson Tide are sitting at 7-2 and remain in good shape to reach the College Football Playoff. They still have Vanderbilt, Chattanooga, and Auburn left on the schedule, all unranked opponents, and if they handle those games, their path to the playoff should be secure.
Alabama has not won a National Championship since the 2020 season under Nick Saban, and the 2026 campaign has already included losses to Georgia and Tennessee. Even so, the door is still open for a turnaround if the Crimson Tide can put together a deep playoff run.
For that to happen, players like Thompkins have to keep wrecking plays in the backfield, getting after the quarterback, and helping shut down the run. Alabama’s defense has been solid, giving up 20.3 points per game, but it has not been among the nation’s elite units. If the Crimson Tide are going to make a real title push, they’ll need more than solid - they’ll need everyone to raise the level.
In Other News...
Alabama Recruiting Debate May Be Bigger Than This Year's Class
Andrew Ivins early read on Alabamas 2027 recruiting class was uneasy enough to raise eyebrows, but the 247Sports director of scouting has since come around on the bigger picture. The current class sits at No. 32, which is the lowest ranking Alabama has posted in the 247Sports era, yet Ivins sees a path that fits the modern college football landscape: stockpile a larger group of high school prospects and then use the transfer portal to fill in the gaps.
Greg Byrnes comments suggest that approach may not stop with one cycle. Alabamas athletic director has already pointed toward a heavier emphasis on high school recruiting in 2028, a sign the program may be recalibrating how it builds its roster for the long haul. The debate now is less about one class than whether Alabama is trying to get ahead of a shifting model before everyone else catches up. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Suddenly Has A Real Shot To Steal Elite Receiver Commit
Alabama has positioned itself for a late swing at one of the more intriguing receiver recruits on its board, as 4-star wideout Jaden Upshaw is set to be in Tuscaloosa for the Iron Bowl while he weighs his final college choice ahead of the early signing period. Upshaw is currently committed to Texas A&M, but his continued contact with Alabama and a previous campus visit suggest the Tide have not faded from his thinking.
For Alabama, the timing matters. The program is still pushing to add Upshaw to its 2027 recruiting class, and getting him back on campus for one of the seasons biggest games gives the staff another chance to make its case. With his decision still open enough for Alabama to stay in the mix, this now looks like a situation worth watching closely as signing day approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Just Got The Keelon Russell News Fans Needed
Keelon Russell gave Alabama exactly what it needed in the win over LSU, playing through an injury and still accounting for 216 total yards and three touchdowns. For a team sitting No. 3 nationally and pushing toward a College Football Playoff berth, the freshman quarterbacks availability has become one of the biggest storylines on the roster.
The early sign was encouraging, with Russell listed as probable in the SECs initial availability report for the upcoming game against Vanderbilt. Alabama does not need much drama at this stage of the season, but getting its young quarterback trending in the right direction is the kind of update that can steady a team with postseason goals still very much in reach. [Read more 🡒]