Alabama to host 5-star WR Evan Stewart, key QB target this weekend

Alabama hopes to clinch the SEC West title and a berth in the SEC Championship Game with a win this weekend over Arkansas. The Crimson Tide also hopes to clinch some commitments from top targets visiting this weekend.

What was already shaping up as a solid recruiting weekend for Alabama got even better on Wednesday with the news that Frisco (Texas) Liberty Five-Star Plus+ receiver Evan Stewart was going to be in Tuscaloosa for an official visit.

Stewart is ranked as the No. 3 player in the country, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also ranks as the No. 1 receiver in the country and the top overall player in the Lone Star State.

Even though he’s visiting Alabama this weekend, most intel has Evan Stewart as a “strong lean toward Texas A&M.” On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons reported on Wednesday the Aggies are clearly the team to beat. But it will be interesting to see if the trip to the Capstone shakes up his recruitment.

5-star junior QB prospect also visiting Alabama

Downey (Calif.) Warren five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava is one of the most coveted juniors in the country. He is being recruited nationwide, and he’ll also be on campus at Alabama this weekend for an unofficial visit.

This will be Iamaleava’s second trip to Tuscaloosa in the past six months after attending a camp there this summer. The 6-foot-6, 200-pounder holds offers from the Crimson Tide, as well as Oregon, USC, UCLA, Georgia, Ohio State and others.

Iamaleava is one of two major quarterback targets in the 2023 class for Alabama, along with No. 1 overall prospect Arch Manning. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Manning has the Crimson Tide among his top five schools, along with Ole Miss, Clemson, Texas and Georgia.

In-state 4-star DL set to visit

Montgomery (Ala.) Pike Road four-star defensive lineman Khurtiss Perry will take his first official visit this weekend. And it’ll be a good opportunity for the Crimson Tide to make a big first official visit impression.

Perry’s already been on campus for a game this season, but this time he will get the red-carpet treatment while on the official visit for 48 hours.

“They are making me feel wanted,” Perry said recently. “I am hearing from Alabama every day “Coach (Freddie) Roach or coach (Charles) Kelly are on me every day, and that is cool.

Perry is down to Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, UCF and Texas. He’ll announce his decision on Dec. 15 at his high school.

Also expected on an official visit is longtime Alabama commitment and On3 Consensus four-star linebacker Shawn Murphy of Manassas (Va.) Unity Reed.