Jumbo Package: Alabama’s 2026 recruiting class is expected to be a small one

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Sep 27, 2025; Athens, Georgia, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks (17) runs against Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Demello Jones (15) in the first half at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

‘Those Days Are Gone’ — Kalen DeBoer Handed Blunt Reality Check As Alabama Expectations Dip – Yahoo Sports

“They also understand that the way that college football and that DNA is now produced on a weekly basis in this conference, I predict you’re not gonna see what Nick Saban or Kirby Smart did in the early 2000s and 2021-2022. Those days are gone. We gotta get into a new mindset, the nine wins are gonna be what 11 wins used to be in this conference.”

To further highlight Alabama’s fall from grace since Saban’s retirement, the Crimson Tide have tied for the fourth-best odds to win the SEC Championship next season. In addition, according to PFSN’s College Football Playoff Meter, the Crimson Tide have been tabbed to win 7.38 games next season.

I feel like predicting Alabama to win less than 8 games next year is a bit ridiculous. The Tide was the second best team in the SEC a year ago, and won in the first round of the playoffs, making them a top-ten program overall. Are there questions and reasons to doubt Alabama could contend for a title? Of course. But under 8 wins? Ehhhh….

Perhaps the most interesting part of Alabama’s recruiting strategy is the overall philosophy behind it.

According to Wiltfong, Alabama feels extremely confident about the talent acquired in both the 2025 and 2026 recruiting classes. Because of that confidence, the Crimson Tide plans to be far more selective in the 2027 cycle.

Rather than simply chasing numbers, Alabama appears focused on taking only high-priority prospects while supplementing the roster through the transfer portal with proven championship-level difference makers.

That approach reflects the modern reality of college football roster building.

Programs can no longer rely strictly on high school recruiting classes. Balancing elite prep talent with experienced portal additions has become essential, and Alabama appears determined to maximize both avenues under DeBoer and Morgan.

There are some interesting things at work here. First, Alabama, and all of the programs, are having to prepare for the fact that players are getting more years of eligibility, whether through endless NCAA exemptions or through the potential upcoming 5 for 5 rule solidification. Either way, there’s going to be less room for freshmen. Next, I think it also underscores a shift that Alabama likely isn’t giving full roster payment to 85 players like during the scholarship era. There’s a lot of talk that more like 70-75 players on a given roster will be paid as such, and the rest will be more akin to what used to be walk-ons, but on some form of scholarship.

There’s veteran options there. Rico Scott and Derek Meadows are among those who will likely factor in heavily as the season gets underway, but there’s at least one freshman who could potentially make a major contribution as well.

Morgan had a stellar showing at A-Day, finishing with three catches for 74 yards and a touchdown according to AL.com’s unofficial stats. He also provides a nice counterpunch to the play styles of Coleman-Williams and Brooks, checking at 6-foot-4, 223 pounds.

The past two seasons, Alabama has seen major contributions from a true freshman at wide receiver. Don’t be surprised if Morgan, a Benjamin Russell product, becomes the next one to make an impact.

Speaking of high-potential freshmen, Cederian Morgan might very well have the highest potential of them all. While Ryan Coleman-Williams and Lotzeir Brooks are the easy top-two receivers on the squad, I think things are pretty wide open after that, and Morgan’s unique combination of size, athleticism, and polish could very well get him on the field early in 2026.

McVay said Alabama’s offensive playbook and Simpson’s SEC competition made it possible to recognize the quarterback’s pro potential in 15 starts.

“Is it a short sample size? Yeah, it is,” McVay said. “But it’s easier to evaluate that short sample size because you’re evaluating all parts of, all right, in the dropback-pass game you’re watching the three-step, the five-step, the seven-step. The way the field’s distributed, the types of coverage contours he’s seeing in the SEC are similar to what he would see. He’s reading with his feet with a timing and rhythm. He’s redirecting protections. He’s getting under center and throwing play-actions off seven-step, one-hitch or eight-step, one-hitch timing and anticipating second-level in-cuts with front-pad throws, making a little bit of plays off-schedule. And so you’re saying, ‘You know, I like this.’

“I like that it wasn’t easy. I like that he had to wait his time at Alabama. And the easy thing, especially nowadays, would have been able to run away. I like that he didn’t. They lose to Florida State and the sky is falling, and they find a way to be able to kind of have some resolve and they get into the SEC championship and there’s a lot of good things in the midst of it. I like the way that he responded when guys would drop balls and he didn’t flinch, or when guys would give up an immediate free runner and didn’t say a word except for, ‘Man, where can I be better?’ Those were the things that the tape communicated to me.”

The best offensive mind in all of football is absolutely enamored with Ty Simpson, and I think that’s as good of a sign as any that Ty has a real shot to have a long and prosperous NFL career.

Finally, if you missed it yesterday, Alabama’s baseball squad got their seeding in the Tuscaloosa Regional.

The Alabama Crimson Tide earned the #7 National seed on Monday morning. Joining the #1 Tide in the Tuscaloosa Regional will be 2nd seeded Oklahoma State, 3rd seeded South Carolina Upstate, and 4th seeded Alabama State. The Tuscaloosa Regional is lined up with the Tallahassee Regional and the 10th overall seed, the Florida State Seminoles. OSU and SCU will open play at 1 p.m. CT Friday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Alabama and Alabama State will follow at 6 p.m; CT on Friday night. The Tide has now made the NCAA Tournament in four straight seasons, and will host for the second time in that time frame, joining the special 2023 team. If the Tide survives the Regional they would host a Super Regional for the first time since 2006.

Congrats to the stick ball guys! Roger will keep you updated here at RBR as the tournament advances.

That’s all for today. Roll Tide!

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