Alabama Crimson Tide suddenly skyrocket into crystal ball prediction for elite pass-rusher after initially missing final cut

The Alabama Crimson Tide continue to climb in the 2026 recruiting class rankings as Kalen DeBoer is on a major tear. The Tide's latest trick is one that has insiders and rivals scratching their heads. Not long ago, the Tide were outside of Kevin "KJ" Ford's top three list, but he now has Alabama in pole position.

With Ford's commitment expected to come soon, the Tide are now favored and earning crystal ball projections their way. Their rollercoaster journey goes back to the spring when Alabama went from the favorite and he was sporting their gear, but things seemed to shift.

However, Ford's comments after his June visit point toward a ton of positive momentum, so it's possible insiders were simply wrong.

“The family aspect,” Ford said at the Rivals Five-Star. “I believe they can win.”

“The environment was great in Tuscaloosa,” he said before going into what stands out. "Just the opportunity to play early and the love from coaches. The energy was great today with the scrimmage and everything going on, my favorite thing about Alabama is just the competition day in and out. I loved being down here and just getting back up to campus and getting to my OV continues to excite about the Tide and how they’ll do next year.”