Meet the Alabama Signees: Defense

The Alabama Crimson Tide and college football programs across the country have finally reached the most important day of the high school recruiting calendar: The first day of the Early Signing Period.

The Early Signing Period begins on Wednesday, and will last until Friday. Although there is still the traditional National Signing Day on Feb. 7, most blue-chip prospects will sign their National Letter of Intent during the ESP.

Over the past year and a half, Alabama has added some of the top defensive prospects across the country. It all started with a commitment from in-state five-star Jaylen Mbakwe on July 26, 2022, with their most recent addition being Missouri-based pass rusher Jayshawn Ross this past Monday.

The Crimson Tide also went international when they landed German-based linebacker Justin Okoronkwo in July of this year.

Down below, BamaOnLine will have live running updates of all Alabama defensive commitments when they officially send in their National Letters of Intent to play for Bama. The summations below will include time signed, their respective commitment dates, and other pertinent details about the future Crimson Tide players.

All times listed below are Central Standard Time.

Signed: EDGE Jayshawn Ross (3:20 P.M.)

Commitment Date: Dec. 18, 2023

Enrollment Status: Currently unknown

On3 Industry Rankings: No. 194 overall/No. 21 EDGE/No. 6 in Missouri

What you need to know: The Alabama Crimson Tide’s pursuit of Jayshawn Ross started with an offer in October. Bama quickly got him on campus for an official visit from Nov. 4-5, and received an unofficial visit from him this past weekend. Ross didn’t need a long time to sit on that last trip as he announced his commitment the Monday after.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder plays on both sides of the ball — as an EDGE rusher and wide receiver. He exploded as a senior with 15 sacks and helped lead Liberty North to the Class 6 state championship.

Why Ross chose Bama — HERE

On3 Analysis of Jayshawn Ross — HERE

Signed: DB Red Morgan (1:14 P.M.)

Commitment Date: Aug. 9, 2023

Enrollment Status: Joining Alabama for bowl prep on Wednesday

On3 Industry Rankings: No. 268 overall/No. 21 safety/No. 16 in Alabama

On300 Rankings: No. 190 overall/No. 16 safety/No. 12 in Alabama

What you need to know: As was the case with fellow safety signee Peyton Woodyard (Georgia to Alabama), the Tide flipped Red Morgan in early August. Morgan had been committed to Florida State for a few weeks, but a push from Alabama after seeing him in person in late July helped to put the program over the top. Morgan’s stock rose throughout his senior season as he went from a three-star recruit to the No. 190 overall prospect on On3.

Morgan’s mom and his entire family are Alabama fans. The Phenix City (Ala.) Central High School recruit is fresh off winning the Class 7A state championship in a thrilling game versus Thompson.

Why Morgan chose Bama — HERE

On3 Analysis of Red Morgan — HERE

Signed: DL Jeremiah Beaman (12:21 P.M.)

Commitment Date: May 21, 2023

Enrollment Status: Early January

On3 Industry Rankings: No. 75 overall/No. 10 defensive lineman/No. 8 in the state of Alabama

What you need to know: Standing at 6-foot-3.5, 250 pounds, Jeremiah Beaman is one of the most intriguing defensive linemen prospects in the 2024 class. Beaman, who plays for nearby Parker High School in Birmingham (Ala.), combines big hands (11.5 inches) with a long wingspan and an impressive vertical. Describing his stature and athleticism, Beaman’s longtime trainer Leonard Stephens said, “that’s Quinnen [Williams] all day.”

Auburn never gave up their pursuit of Beaman after his commitment as they hosted him for multiple visits, including a late September official visit. Colorado also hosted Beaman for a visit in September. On Dec. 5, Beaman shut down his recruitment. He’ll participate in the All-American Bowl in San Antonio on Jan. 6 before joining the Tide as an early enrollee.

Why Beaman chose Bama — HERE

On3 Analysis of Jeremiah Beaman — HERE

Signed: DB Jameer Grimsley (12:11 P.M.)

Commitment Date: July 1, 2023

Enrollment Status: Will head to Bama for bowl practice on Thursday

On3 Industry Rankings: No. 158 overall/No. 21 cornerback/No. 22 in Florida

On300 Rankings: No. 100 overall/No. 14 cornerback/No. 14 in Florida

What you need to know: Jameer Grimsley’s recruitment exploded in early 2023. His first Power 5 offer was from Penn State on Jan. 17, with over two dozen schools joining the mix in the following two months. Alabama offered Grimsley on Feb. 15, and got him on campus for his first-ever visit two months later.

An official visit to Bama in mid-June put the Tide over the top. Florida made a late push, but Grimsley’s relationships with Nick Saban and his staff were too much to overcome. Grimsley suffered a foot injury that kept him out most of his senior season, but he’ll be good to go for bowl prep this month.

Why Grimsley chose Bama — HERE

On3 Analysis of Jameer Grimsley — HERE

Signed: DL Steve Mboumoua (11:12 A.M.)

Commitment Date: Dec. 20, 2023

Enrollment Status: Expected to arrive in January

On300 Rankings: No. 274 national/No. 27 defensive lineman

What you need to know: Bama dipped into Canadian-based defensive lineman Mboumoua’s recruitment back on June 26. Their offer to him came after he camped at the school earlier in the month. Mboumoua returned to Tuscaloosa in October for the Tennessee game, which was the first-ever college game day visit that he’s taken in his recruitment. Mboumoua officially visited Bama from Dec. 8-10.

Mboumoua, a native of Cameroon, attended CEGEP at Notre Dame de Foy, a pre-university educational school. High School students graduate after grade 11 in the province of Quebec. Students attend CEGEP schools prior to attending a four-year university. Notre Dame de Foy competes in the RESQ D-I Football League.

Why Mboumoua chose Bama — HERE

On3 Analysis of Steve Mboumoua — HERE

Signed: DL Isaia Faga (11:09 A.M.)

Commitment Date: June 28, 2023

Enrollment Status: Joining Alabama for bowl prep on Wednesday

On300 Rankings: No. 256 overall/No. 24 defensive lineman/No. 15 in Alabama

What you need to know: Isaia Faga comes from a military family as his father, Adrian, is an Army Ranger. Faga’s father was deployed overseas when he announced his flip from Utah to Alabama in the summer. A native of Las Vegas with family out west, Bama’s culture and the standard they hold their players to ultimately put the program over the top for Faga.

Faga was locked in with the Tide ever since he committed. Alongside teammate Red Morgan, Faga helped his team, Central High School in Phenix City (Ala.), go 15-0 and win a state championship over Thompson earlier this month. Faga had 12 sacks (per MaxPreps) and 26 tackles for loss on the season.

Why Faga chose Bama — HERE

On3 Analysis of Isaia Faga — HERE

Signed: DB Jaylen Mbakwe (10:37 A.M.)

Commitment date: July 26, 2022

Enrollment Status: Early January

On3 Industry Rankings: No. 18 overall/No. 1 ATH/No. 3 in Alabama

What you need to know: Jaylen Mbakwe is a product of Clay-Chalkville High School in Pinson (Ala.). Mbakwe helped lead the Cougars to two state titles — as a sophomore in 2021 and as a senior in 2023. The 5-foot-11, 170-pounder played quarterback for his high school in his senior season, but is projected to play cornerback at Alabama.

He was the longest-tenured commitment in Bama’s 2024 class (nearly 17 months). He visited Auburn and LSU this year, but completely shut down his recruitment in the summer. Mbakwe will be participating in the Under Armour All-America Game in Orlando prior to officially enrolling at Alabama.

Why Mbakwe chose Alabama – HERE 

On3 Analysis of Jaylen Mbakwe – HERE

Signed: DB Peyton Woodyard (9:06 A.M.)

Commitment Date: Aug. 8, 2023

Enrollment Status: Participating in bowl practice

On3 Industry Rankings: No. 110 overall/No. 7 safety/No. 11 in California

What you need to know: Peyton Woodyard committed to the Georgia Bulldogs on Jan. 9, 2023. Alabama did not give up on their pursuit of the Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco product as they hosted him for a visit in April and an official visit in June. That was enough to convince Woodyard to flip his commitment from UGA to Bama before the season.

Woodyard spent his entire life in California up to this point, but his father is originally from Mobile (Ala.). His dad’s side of the family will be able to watch his games next season and beyond. Along with doing bowl prep, Woodyard will be at the All-American Bowl in San Antonio in early January as well.

Why Woodyard chose Bama — HERE

On3 Analysis of Peyton Woodyard — HERE

Signed: DB Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. (8:32 A.M.)

Commitment Date: Aug. 18, 2023

Enrollment Status: Participating in bowl practice

On3 Industry Rankings: No. 74 safety/No. 34 in Alabama

What you need to know: On Wednesday, Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. became the first recruit — whose father played for Nick Saban at Alabama — to sign with the Crimson Tide. Bama began their pursuit of Kirkpatrick back on July 25 after he put on a solid performance in the program’s final summer camp. He measured 5-foot-10.5, 198 pounds and clocked in the 4.6-range in the 40-yard dash.

Kirkpatrick would go on to commit to Alabama over a final group of Auburn, Arkansas, and Missouri. He competed in the Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Game on Dec. 16, and reported to bowl practice for the Tide later that night.

Why Kirkpatrick chose Bama — HERE

On3 Analysis of Dre Kirkpatrick — HERE

Signed: LB Cayden Jones (8:16 A.M.)

Commitment Date: April 21, 2023

Enrollment Status: Arriving early January

On300 Rankings: No. 267 overall/No. 19 linebacker/No. 12 in North Carolina

What you need to know: Cayden Jones committed to the Crimson Tide over the likes of North Carolina, Tennessee, and USC. His recruitment immediately shut down as Jones did not take any visits elsewhere after joining Bama’s 2024 class. He made his way out to The Capstone three times this season, including for his official visit the weekend of the Arkansas game.

Jones had a productive senior season on both sides of the ball, and won the Western Football Conference Athlete of the Year. He was also named one of 12 semifinalists for the Dick Butkus Award. The Christ School recruit out of Arden (N.C.) will participate in the Under Armour All-America Game in Orlando on Jan. 3.

Why Jones chose Bama — HERE

On3 Analysis of Cayden Jones — HERE

Signed: LB Sterling Dixon (8:06 A.M.)

Commitment Date: Dec. 1, 2022

Enrollment Status: Arrived in Bama for bowl prep, but will not practice (recent shoulder surgery)

On3 Industry Rankings: No. 179 overall/No. 13 linebacker/No. 10 in Alabama

What you need to know: Alabama was No. 3 on Sterling Dixon’s list in the early Fall 2022. The program then rose to the top over the course of a couple of months, beating out Auburn and LSU for his services. Both programs made strong pushes for the Mobile area recruit at one point or the other, but Dixon ultimately stuck with his commitment.

Dixon finished his senior season with 128 total tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, and 32 quarterback hits for Spanish Fort High School. This was his first year playing 6A football in Alabama after transferring from Mobile Christian School. At MCS, Dixon was teammates with current Bama linebacker Deontae Lawson.

Why Dixon chose Bama — HERE

On3 Analysis of Sterling Dixon — HERE

Signed: CB Zabien Brown (7:49 A.M.)

Commitment Date: July 9, 2023

Enrollment Status: Participating in bowl practice

On3 Industry Rankings: No. 54 overall/No. 6 CB/No. 4 in California

What you need to know: Originally from Texas, Zabien Brown collected an offer from Alabama all the way back in June 2021. Tuscaloosa is roughly 2,000 miles away from him, but the Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei recruit took three trips to The Capstone this year. That included an official visit with the Tide the weekend of June 23-25.

Brown, who turns 20 in November 2024, committed to Bama over nearby USC. He will be roommates with good friend and fellow Crimson Tide early enrollee Peyton Woodyard. The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder had a pick-six in his team’s state title game victory on Nov. 25. 

Why Brown chose Alabama – HERE 

On3 Analysis of Zabien Brown – HERE

Signed: LB Justin Okoronkwo (6:50 A.M.)

Commitment Date: July 9, 2023

Enrollment Status: Arriving in early January

On3 Industry Rankings: No. 454 overall/No. 42 linebacker

What you need to know: Justin Okoronkwo hails from Munich, Germany. His father is originally from Nigeria, while his mother is German. The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder did not start playing football until about four years ago when a classmate suggested it to him.

Okoronkwo has not looked back since, and earned several Power 5 offers during his recruitment. The former Maryland commit shined at an Alabama camp in June, posting a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and going 4-for-4 in pass rush drills. Earlier this month, Okoronkwo became the first-ever international player to be invited to the All-American Bowl in San Antonio (Jan. 6).

Why Okoronkwo chose Bama — HERE

On3 Analysis of Justin Okoronkwo — HERE

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