Alabama football has officially wrapped up its 2026 recruiting class, and while National Signing Day came and went without any last-minute fireworks, the Crimson Tide walk away with one of the strongest classes in the country-and the best in the SEC.
Under head coach Kalen DeBoer, Alabama continues to show it’s not just maintaining its recruiting dominance, but evolving it. In DeBoer’s second full cycle at the helm, the Tide locked in the No. 2 overall class nationally, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. Only USC finished higher, and no SEC team came close to matching Alabama’s haul.
Let’s break down the numbers. Alabama is one of just three programs-alongside Oregon and Notre Dame-to sign at least four five-star prospects.
That elite group includes running back Ezavier Crowell, linebacker Xavier Griffin, cornerback Jorden Edmonds, and safety Jireh Edwards. That’s a core of blue-chip talent that can anchor both sides of the ball for years to come.
But it’s not just about the five-stars. Alabama also brought in 10 four-star recruits and 12 three-stars, giving the class strong depth across multiple positions.
When you look at average player rating-a stat that often paints a clearer picture of overall talent quality-Alabama ranks third nationally, behind only Oregon and LSU. That’s a sign that this class isn’t just big, it’s loaded with high-ceiling players.
Within the SEC, Alabama leads the pack. Here's how the conference stacked up in the 247Sports composite rankings:
- Alabama (No. 2 nationally)
- Georgia (No.
- Texas (No.
- Tennessee (No.
- Texas A&M (No.
- LSU (No.
- Oklahoma (No.
- Florida (No.
- South Carolina (No.
- Ole Miss (No.
- Mississippi State (No.
- Missouri (No.
- Auburn (No.
- Vanderbilt (No.
- Arkansas (No.
- Kentucky (No.
The SEC is always a recruiting gauntlet, and yet Alabama still managed to rise above the rest. That’s a credit to DeBoer and his staff, who have clearly made an impression on the trail early in their tenure.
Now, with the 2026 class locked in, the Crimson Tide are already shifting their focus to the future. January saw Alabama coaches hitting the road, evaluating talent in the 2027 class and beyond. That kind of forward-thinking approach has long been a trademark of elite programs, and it’s clear Alabama isn’t planning to slow down anytime soon.
In a year that could’ve been transitional, Alabama instead doubled down on its recruiting identity-and the results speak for themselves.