Top 2026 Quarterback Includes SEC Powerhouse in Top Four List

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nazario Pangallo | Last updated Mar 26, 2025 4:04 PM ET

During Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer's opening spring as the leader of the program, the former Washington head coach made a surprising move by flipping SMU quarterback commit Keelon Russel, who was rated a three-star at the time. As the recruiting season went along, Russell continued to climb the rankings finishing as a five-star recruit and the highest-rated recruit in Alabama history.

DeBoer and his staff are attempting to find their next quarterback recruit in the 2026 class, and that search could be coming to a close with four-star prospect Derek Zammit including the Crimson Tide within his top four along with Mississippi State, Washington, and Syracuse.

The Wayne, New Jersey native is ranked as the No. 406 player in the country and No. 25 quarterback according to the On3 Industry Rankings. At 6-foot-1 193 pounds, Zammit was offered by Alabama just late last month before scheduling an official visit to Tuscaloosa on April 11-12.

“Coach Sheridan and I had been talking for about a month,” Zammit told BamaOnLine’s Andrew Bone after the offer. “He came to see me in January and saw me throw. We talked for a good bit that day, so we’ve had a good relationship since then.

… He asked me (last week) if I was ready for the opportunity to have an offer to play for Alabama. It was exciting. We were immediately thinking of when is the best time for us to get down there for a visit. It was a really good conversation.”

Alabama currently holds the No. 13 ranked 2026 recruiting class according to the On3 Team Industry Rankings with just three commitments in the group.

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

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