Nov 16, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer gestures during a timeout in the first quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Credit: Will McLelland-Imagn Images

Where Kalen DeBoer's First Recruiting Class At Alabama Ranked

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Griffin Conant | Last updated Feb 6, 2025 12:23 PM ET

The final pieces of Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer's inaugural recruiting class in Tuscaloosa have been put in place, and upon initial review, the outcomes are certainly promising.

The Crimson Tide have long been synonymous with elite recruiting classes under the guidance of the legendary Nick Saban, and now, a new wave of standout recruits is eager to make their mark and leave a lasting legacy at Alabama.

On National Signing Day Wednesday, DeBoer and the Crimson Tide secured the third-ranked recruiting class in the country, with seven of their eight signees ranking among the top ten nationally. Alabama now trails only Texas and Georgia within the SEC for the nation’s top recruiting spot.

Among the Crimson Tide's illustrious class are a slew of standout names, including a trio of five-star prospects: cornerback Dijon Lee, offensive lineman Michael Carroll, and quarterback Keelon Russell. Russell, widely considered the next great Alabama signal caller, is ranked as the second-best quarterback in the nation and the No. 2 overall recruit. Alabama also added a whopping 16 four-star prospects to their coveted recruiting class.

As it stands, DeBoer is following in Saban's recruiting footsteps, with Nick's final class in 2024 also finishing at No. 2 nationally. After guiding his team to a 9-4 record this past fall, it is is now on DeBoer to replicate Saban's success on the field. Without a doubt, he has some enormous shoes to fill.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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