Following the Future: Alabama commits in action (Aug. 22-24)
Each of Alabama’s three commitments that took the field last week started their seasons with a 1-0 record.
This week, most of the Tide’s verbal pledges will be on the gridiron for the start of their 2024 campaigns. All but six of Bama’s commits from the 2025, 2026, and 2027 classes will begin their seasons over the next couple of days. Four of them will start up fall ball on Thursday.
BamaOnLine takes a look at the upcoming matchups for the Tide’s pledges, and when and where they will be played.
Several Alabama commits will be wearing new jerseys this season
Five-Star CB Dijon Lee, Mission Viejo (Calif.) High School: Lee and his teammates opened their season with a 41-7 victory against Kamehameha Kapalama in Hawaii. They’ll play their first home game of the fall on Saturday when Santa Margarita comes into town. That game’s scheduled kickoff time is 7:00 p.m. local/9:00 p.m. Central.
Four-star RB Anthony “Turbo” Rogers, Montgomery (Ala.) Carver High School: Rogers is back in Montgomery after spending his junior season at IMG Academy, which had Texas signee Jerrick Gibson as its No. 1 back last year. Now the feature back at Carver High School, Rogers starts his senior season on Friday with a home game versus Vestavia Hills. Kickoff time for that one is set for 7:00 p.m. Central.
Four-star IOL Micah DeBose, Theodore (Ala.) High School: Like Rogers, DeBose is another in-state commitment who will be playing his senior year at a different school than he did the year before. After previously being at Vigor HS, DeBose will finish his high school career at Theodore. The Bobcats will begin the season with a home game (non-region) against Baker HS on Friday at 7:00 p.m. Central.
Five-star OT Michael Carroll, IMG Academy: Similarly to his two future teammates mentioned above, five-star prospect Michael Carroll is in a new environment for his final year of prep ball. Carroll, the No. 12 overall player on On3, transferred to IMG after previously being at Central Bucks East in Pennsylvania. The Ascenders play at Corner Canyon HS in Utah on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. local/8:00 p.m. Central.
Four-star TE Kaleb Edwards, El Dorado Hills (Calif.) Oak Ridge High School: Oak Ridge went 10-3 last season, and will open their 2024 campaign against Frontier High School at home this weekend. That game will be played at 7:30 p.m. local time/9:30 p.m. Central on Saturday.
Legacy OL Mal Waldrep, Phenix City (Ala.) Central High School: The Red Devils are looking to win back-to-back state championships this season. Last year, the program went 13-0 and defeated Thompson HS in the state championship game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Waldrep and his teammates begin their season with a home game versus Pinson Valley on Friday at 7:00 p.m. Central.
Three-star DL London Simmons, Flowood (Miss.) Hartfield Academy: Hartfield Academy defeated Heritage Academy 49-7 last week in a tune-up for their season. They’ll officially begin their season on the road at Brookhaven Academy on Friday, with kickoff set for 7:00 p.m. Central.
Four-star LB Luke Metz, Dacula (Ga.) Mill Creek High School: In his season opener, Metz recorded 7 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 3 quarterback hurries, and a 33-yard TD reception in a 56-26 win over Lambert HS. He’ll look to build on that performance with a road game at Norcross HS on Friday. Kickoff for that one is set for 7:00 p.m. Central.
ICYMI: Alabama LB commitment shines in season opener, continues to attract suitors
Top 100 EDGE Justin Hill, Cincinnati (Oh.) Winton Woods High School: One of Alabama’s top commitments on the defensive side of the ball will start his senior season this week. Justin Hill and his Winton Woods HS teammates open up the year on the road at Springfield HS. That game will be played on Friday at 6:00 p.m. Central.
Top 100 LB Darell “Duke” Johnson, Eastman (Ga.) Dodge County High School: Johnson recorded 103 total tackles last season, and has remained a leader for Dodge County after another change at head coach. The Indians start the season on the road at Bleckley County this Friday. That game will kick off at 6:30 p.m. Central.
ALSO: Alabama LB commit aiming to earn five-star status this season
Top 100 DB Chuck McDonald and four-star LB Abduall Sanders, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei HS: The Monarchs have lost just two games in the past two seasons. Winners of the state title last year, Mater Dei will face off against Centennial HS at home on Thursday. McDonald, Sanders, and several other future P4 players will take the field for Mater Dei at 7:00 p.m. local time/9:00 p.m. Central.
Punter Alex Asparuhov, Fresno (Calif.) San Joaquin Memorial: San Joaquin begins their 2024 campaign with a home game against Clovis North HS. That matchup will begin at 7:30 p.m. local/9:30 p.m. Central on Friday.
Four-star CB Dorian Barney (2026), Carrollton (Ga.) High School: Barney and his Carrollton HS teammates opened up their season with a 24-14 victory over Woodward Academy on ESPN. They’ll play their first home game of the fall on Friday against Columbia HS. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. local/6:30 p.m. Central.
Top 100 EDGE Ba’Roc Willis (2027 commit), Moody (Ala.) High School: Just over three weeks after committing to Alabama, Willis will begin his sophomore season on Thursday. Moody HS will take on Gainesville HS at home at 7:30 p.m. Central. Willis tallied 79 total tackles, with 14.5 tackles for loss, while also adding 9 sacks and a couple of forced fumbles last year.
Top 100 EDGE JaBarrius Garror (2027 commit), Prichard (Ala.) Vigor High School: Garror and the new-look Vigor program (new head coach and Micah DeBose is at Theodore) take the field for the first time this week. They’ll play at Blount HS on Friday at 7:00 p.m. Central. As a freshman, Garror recorded 32 total tackles, 8.5 sacks, and 7 tackles for loss in five games.
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