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The Tuscaloosa News
Why in-state recruiting was a problem for Kalen DeBoer, Alabama football 2025 class
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Why in-state recruiting was a problem for Kalen DeBoer, Alabama football 2025 class
The relationships had already been built before Kalen DeBoer took the Alabama football head coaching job.
Dijon Lee , the five-star cornerback out of Mission Viejo, California, was one of the first players to get a call from DeBoer and the Crimson Tide , continuing a consistency that dated back for the two-plus years of their relationship. DeBoer was also "well aware" of California four-star cornerback Chuck McDonald, and had personally scouted California four-star offensive tackle Jackson Lloyd.
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There was no secret to DeBoer's recruiting strategy in his first season at Alabama . It was always going to be West Coast heavy.
"You know, their high school coaches know who I am, know who much of our staff were," DeBoer said. "That helped get the ball rolling with those guys."
As Alabama wrapped up its 2025 recruiting class, it was one that includes seven California players: Lee, McDonald, Lloyd, four-star tight end Kaleb Edwards, four-star linebacker Abduall Sanders Jr., four-star junior college defensive end Kevonte Henry and two-star punter Alex Asparuhov. It was one that includes three Georgia players, two Mississippi players and players from Pennsylvania , New Jersey, Ohio and Texas .
It's a class that includes only two Alabama players: four-star offensive tackle Micah DeBose and three-star offensive tackle and Crimson Tide legacy Mal Waldrep.
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DeBoer didn't sugarcoat things. He and his staff were behind from an in-state recruiting perspective in 2025, using the spring recruiting period to show off the program's message in a new era and show DeBoer's vision for the Crimson Tide.
And while DeBoer and his staff got its bearings in Alabama, Auburn signed eight of the top 12 in-state recruits, while Oregon took the state's top prospect in cornerback Na'eem Offord, Ohio State added two Alabama players in defensive end Zion Grady and running back Anthony Rogers — a former Crimson Tide commit — and Texas added quarterback KJ Lacey.
Kalen DeBoer shares plan for 2026 Alabama football in-state recruiting
Oct 12, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer watches his team play against South Carolina at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images
But the plan for DeBoer and his staff for in-state recruiting in 2026 is clear.
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"As we continue to emphasize and really focus on the relationships we're building in state, and in the region as well ... every year we'll continue to just grow, build trust," DeBoer said. "I think the season that we went through will only continue to help these in-state high school coaches believe in us that the tradition will continue."
It's already worked.
Alabama's one 2026 commit is four-star defensive lineman Vodney Cleveland out of Parker High School in Birmingham.
For DeBoer and Alabama, it will need to continue to work with prospects like five-star defensive end Anthony Jones out of Mobile, four-star wide receiver Cederian Morgan out of Alexander City and four-star cornerback Zyan Gibson out of Gadsden up for grabs.
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DeBoer's approach is not changing from what he built out west. It's about "finding ways to build relationships and build trust."
It's something DeBoer and the Alabama coaching staff feels like it has time to do now.
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: Kalen DeBoer talks 2025 Alabama football in-state recruiting
