Alabama Recruiting: 2025 commit breakdown

After finishing with the No. 2 class in the 2024 recruiting cycle, Alabama is well on its way to keeping up its recruiting success under new head coach Kalen DeBoer.

Thanks to a stellar summer on the recruiting trail, the Crimson Tide now hold 21 commitments in the 2025 class and rank No. 2 in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

Alabama Class Breakdown

Alabama’s two highest-rated commitments came during the month of July. Ackerman (Miss.) Choctaw County five-star wide receiver Caleb Cunningham chose Alabama on July 13 — one day before Denton (Texas) Ryan five-star offensive tackle Ty Haywood made the same decision.

The next three recruits in Alabama’s 2025 class joined the group a month earlier. Duncanville (Texas) five-star quarterback Keelon Russell flipped to the Tide from SMU. Mission Viejo (Calif.) five-star cornerback Dijon Lee and IMG Academy top-40 interior offensive lineman Michael Carroll also committed in June.

Three Alabama commits hail from the Yellowhammer State: Carver four-star running back Anthony Rogers, Theodore four-star interior offensive lineman Micah DeBose and Phenix City Central three-star IOL Mal Waldrep.

Top Tide Offensive Commit: OT Ty Haywood

Denton (Texas) Ryan five-star offensive tackle Ty Haywood committed to Alabama on July 14. He is the nation’s No. 11 overall prospect, No. 2 offensive tackle and No. 4 recruit from Texas in the 2025 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Haywood chose the Tide over Oklahoma.

On3’s Scouting and Rankings team writes this about him as a prospect.

“Explosive, powerful offensive tackle with high-end traits for the position. Measured in at around 6-foot-4.75, 297 pounds with 33 ⅞-inch arms and 10-inch hands at the On3 Elite Series prior to his senior season. Added around 15 pounds prior to his junior season. Shows encouraging movement skills in the camp setting. Doubles as a standout in track and field with a stellar 58-6 foot shot put throw as a junior. Transfers those physical attributes over to the field in a functional way. Works at left tackle for Denton Ryan, one of the top talent-producing high school programs in North Texas.

“Flashes very strong hands, stunning defensive linemen with his initial punch. Has strong grip strength and maintains his blocks. A bully in the run game. Shows good reactive quickness with moving laterally. Plays with a sturdy base and shows the ability to anchor on contact. Will need to continue honing his pass set technique. Has some stiffness in his lower body and could stand to improve flexibility. Frame may project more as a maxed 315-pounder than at 325+. Has the skill set to project at multiple spots along the offensive line, but stacks up well among a loaded offensive tackle group in the 2025 cycle.”

Top Defensive Commit: CB Dijon Lee

Mission Viejo (Calif.) five-star cornerback Dijon Lee joined the class at the end of a very productive June for the Crimson Tide. He committed to Alabama over Texas, Texas A&M and Washington.

Lee ranks No. 22 nationally in the 2025 class and fourth among cornerbacks. On3’s Scouting and Rankings team writes this about him as a prospect.

“Very tall cornerback with advanced awareness and feet in coverage. Measured at 6-foot-3.25, 187 pounds with 32-inch arms and 9.5-inch hands at the On3 Elite Series prior to his senior season. Battle-tested against top competition in one of the nation’s most competitive high school leagues. Rarely out of position in coverage. Technically sound when working off the line of scrimmage, using his hands to affect receivers. Good ball skills and ball production. Able to track and locate passes. Looks to understand route concepts and has been well-coached.

“Skilled at reading quarterbacks, sometimes baiting them into ill-advised throws. Dangerous in zone coverage. A physical presence in defending the flats. Bodies ball carriers on contact. Top-end speed remains a question. His personal best in the 100 meters is an 11.53 over three seasons of track and field, but has a 46-foot triple jump. Arm length is good at the position, but below average for a 6-foot-3 corner. Ultimate upside as a corner will be largely determined by his improvements in long speed, but has the size and technical skills to be an impact player at the position. Also not of the cards he could end up as a safety long-term given his size and skills.”