2026 Top-100 DL Vodney Cleveland decommits from Alabama

Birmingham (Ala.) Parker four-star defensive lineman Vodney Cleveland committed to Kalen DeBoer and Alabama less than two months ago at the end of October.

After some thought, the elite 6-foot-2.5, 305-pounder is reopening his recruitment and has decommitted from the in-state Crimson Tide.

“I love Coach (Freddie) Roach and I’m still considering Alabama. I talked with my family and I feel like I made a decision too early in my process and want to make sure I’m making the best decision for my future,” Cleveland told On3.

Alabama will have plenty of competition to get Cleveland back in the class. Schools that have also piqued Cleveland’s interest include Oregon, Miami, Georgia, Tennessee, LSU, South Carolina, Texas, Ohio State and USC.

He is the No. 79 overall prospect and No. 6 DL in the 2026 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 5 player in Alabama.

As a member of the 6A Alabama State Champion Parker Thundering Herd, Cleveland notched 46 total tackles this fall. He was the lone prospect committed to the Crimson Tide in the 2026 cycle.

Scout’s Take on Vodney Cleveland

On3’s Charles Power previously said this of Cleveland as a prospect:

“Vodney Cleveland is a compact, powerful and explosive defensive lineman. He shows good first-step quickness and is explosive off the snap. He shows the ability to convert burst to power on contact. He’s had some really impressive ‘splash’ plays as a junior while playing on an elite defensive line at Parker.

“We’ve seen him make a lot of impactful plays during the last few years. He flashed in the Carrollton game against Julian Lewis earlier this year. He has the skill set to be a strong run defender with his ability to occupy blocks. He is built for that. He also has the twitch and pass-rush juice to create disruption on obvious passing downs. I think he shows good versatility.”