With a new era of Alabama football officially underway following the retirement of legendary head coach Nick Saban, Kalen DeBoer and his staff wasted no time establishing their own recruiting identity. While many eyes were on DeBoer’s transition from Washington to Tuscaloosa earlier this year, it’s becoming clear that Alabama’s new leader is adapting quickly to the SEC’s hyper-competitive environment.
This past weekend marked a critical moment in that transition, as Alabama hosted several top-tier recruits on campus and made major strides in the race to fill out their 2025 and 2026 classes. It wasn’t just a routine weekend in Tuscaloosa—it was a turning point, both in terms of perception and performance on the recruiting trail.
By all accounts, Alabama’s coaching staff left a lasting impression on their visitors. From blue-chip offensive weapons to dominant defensive standouts, the list of names who walked away impressed—and in some cases, leaning toward committing—signals a major recruiting win for DeBoer and company.
Among the most notable visitors was five-star linebacker Jonah Williams, widely regarded as one of the most physically gifted defenders in the nation. Williams, who has been courted by programs across the SEC and beyond, was seen speaking at length with Alabama linebackers coach Christian Robinson during practice sessions. Sources close to Williams said the trip “exceeded expectations” and that the Tide are now firmly in his top three. That’s a significant development considering how competitive his recruitment has been, with Georgia and Ohio State long assumed to be front-runners.
But Williams wasn’t the only elite prospect in town.
Four-star wide receiver Malcolm Simmons, a dynamic playmaker out of the state of Alabama, also visited over the weekend and came away raving about the experience. Simmons, who had previously named Auburn his leader, was reportedly “blown away” by how involved Coach DeBoer was during his visit. Simmons noted that he appreciated DeBoer’s “honesty and vision for the program,” which now has him reevaluating his recruitment timeline. The staff’s detailed plan for utilizing Simmons’ speed and versatility in their offensive scheme made a serious impact. A commitment isn’t imminent, but the momentum has clearly shifted.
In addition to Williams and Simmons, Alabama also played host to five-star cornerback Dorian Brew, one of the top defensive backs in the 2025 class. Brew has long been considered an Ohio State lean due to proximity and family connections, but Alabama’s pitch over the weekend may have altered the landscape. Brew was seen sitting in on defensive meetings and engaging in lengthy one-on-one conversations with defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, who laid out how Brew could step into an immediate role in the secondary.
According to those in attendance, Brew and his family left with “a new level of respect” for what Alabama is building. Brew, who is expected to make his final decision in July, is now giving the Tide a much harder look than he was even a few weeks ago. While flipping a presumed Ohio State lock is no small feat, Alabama’s weekend performance suggests they’re not out of it.
Perhaps even more encouraging than the big names on campus was how the Tide connected with recruits on a personal level. Several attendees commented on the family atmosphere in Tuscaloosa, which is especially noteworthy given the coaching turnover in recent months. DeBoer’s staff, comprised of both holdovers from Saban’s final seasons and new faces from across the country, seems to have quickly gelled into a unified force. That cohesion is resonating with recruits, who feel a clear sense of direction despite the recent upheaval.
One parent of a 2026 recruit described the weekend as “organized, personal, and inspiring.” According to them, Alabama is “clearly not in rebuilding mode—they’re in reload mode.”
The visits weren’t limited to top-tier players. Alabama also welcomed several rising talents who could become the core of future recruiting classes. Among them was 2026 quarterback Ryan Montgomery, a rising junior out of Ohio who has been gaining traction as one of the nation’s top signal callers. While Montgomery is still early in his recruitment, his interactions with Alabama offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan and quarterbacks coach Jamarcus Shephard left a strong impression. He praised the staff’s “attention to detail” and noted how much time they spent breaking down film and discussing development plans.
Montgomery’s father added that the visit “felt more like a coaching clinic than a recruiting pitch,” which in many ways speaks to the kind of approach DeBoer has emphasized since taking over. His focus isn’t just on selling Alabama—it’s on showing recruits exactly how the program will elevate their game.
