Story by
The Tuscaloosa News
How Chuck Morrell is pitching Alabama football linebackers to 2026 recruiting class
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- How Chuck Morrell is pitching Alabama football linebackers to 2026 recruiting class
Chuck Morrell has not wasted much time since his Alabama football promotion.
After spending the 2024 season as an analyst and special assistant to the head coach, Morrell was named as the Crimson Tide 's linebackers coach Jan. 3, taking the responsibility from defensive coordinator Kane Wommack .
Advertisement
Since the promotion, Morrell has been on the recruiting trail, promoting a unit that as extremely productive in 2024 — a unit he worked with extensively — and extending offers to linebackers across the country that fit the Crimson Tide mold.
To recruits, Morrell's pitch is simple.
"His words were, you know, ' Alabama , we love you,'" 2026 Ohio linebacker Cincere Johnson said. "And 'Alabama, we coming.'"
Johnson, the No. 104 player and No. 8 linebacker in the 2026 class per 247Sports' composite rankings, fits the mold.
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound linebacker already had Alabama's attention during the middle of his junior season for his length, size and speed, one that led to 205 tackles, 41 tackles-for-loss and the 2024 OHSAA Division IV Defensive Player of the Year award at Glenville High School in Cleveland.
Advertisement
"My instincts are key on, you know, I can read a play before it happens," Johnson said. "You know, send people backwards."
Cincere Johnson was at Ohio Stadium to watch the Ohio State Buckeyes take on the Michigan Wolverines in an NCAA football game on Saturday Nov. 30, 2024.
While Morrell specializes coaching inside linebackers at Alabama, with Christian Robinson heading up the outside linebacker spot, Johnson said Morrell's pitch was teaching him each linebacker spot and finding which position he fit best.
The pitch was similar for 2026 Maryland linebacker Nick Abrams with his 6-foot-2, 210-pound frame and his 8-foot, 3-inch wingspan, who could run a 4.57-second 40-yard dash.
Abrams said he doesn't have one main skill, but skills that combine to create his ability to "be a game-wrecker," which, he said, worked for him at McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Maryland outside of Baltimore, and worked for Crimson Tide linebackers.
Advertisement
"(Morrell) told me how the scheme is really linebacker driven," Abrams said. "Like everything goes through the linebackers. Like where the linebackers go, that's where the defense goes. With that mindset, they were able to be a top-10 defense in the nation."
To Abrams, Morrell did something many coaches don't do. Abrams said Morrell told him exactly where he can improve, how increased strength would make Abrams more disruptive when destroying blocks and how he can be more technical in pass coverage.
And while Abrams, the No. 276 player and No. 23 linebacker in the country, has no top list at this point in his recruitment, he said he expects Alabama "to be in it to the end."
"It's Alabama," Abrams said. "They put linebackers in the league almost every year."
Advertisement
As for Johnson, who has numerous family connections to the state of Alabama, he sees an opportunity with the Crimson Tide that he views as hard to pass up.
"It has to be one of your top schools, just the rich history that comes to mind. And a lot of people bring up Nick Saban," Johnson said. "Yes, they went 9-4 this year, but, you know, they still produced. And the production of the linebackers this year has been amazing. And with some linebackers leaving, that opens up doors for me in 2026."
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Chuck Morrell pitches Alabama football to 2026 recruiting class
