Caleb Smith Takes Edge-Rushing Talents and Goes Home

Originally posted on Washington Huskies on SI
By Dan Raley | Last updated Jan 13, 2026 4:50 PM ET

When edge rusher Caleb Smith left Birmingham, Alabama, for the University of Washington a year ago, Matt Doherty, senior director of player personnel, explained how the South was known for its elite pass rushers and the Huskies wanted in on the gold mine.

Hence, the UW made a determined push to bring the 6-foot-5, 270-pound Smith all the way to Montlake, 2,530 miles in fact.

Well, on Tuesday, the South claimed him back.

Smith announced on social media he had committed to Alabama and Kalen DeBoer's coaching staff -- and he was going home.

Of 18 Huskies currently in the transfer portal, he is the 10th one to find a new school with this process coming to a close on Friday.

Smith originally was committed to Georgia Tech and flipped to the Huskies, this after taking other visits to Memphis, Oklahoma State and Purdue.

But not Alabama.

1000% COMMITTED ALL GLORY TO GOD
COMING HOME‼️ #RTR pic.twitter.com/3eb0xUIPHp
— Caleb Smith (@caleb_smith19) January 13, 2026

Smith seemed overjoyed by Crimson Tide finally showing a lot of interest in him.

"It was not a hard decision to make," he said.

What's interesting is while Alabama didn't recruit Smith when he a 3-star recruit at Birmingham's Parker High School, the kid never played a snap for the UW this past season as a freshman to show off his newfound development.

So it's not real clear when and what the Crimson Tide finally saw in him to reverse course in pursuing him.

Maybe DeBoer's recruiters simply read Doherty's over complimentary description of Smith and realized they missed one last year.

"He's just scratching the surface in terms of what he's capable of doing," Doherty said in December 2024. "I would say of anybody, who I might predict, [and] I don't want to put undue pressure on the kid, his ceiling is extremely high."

And there was even more than that as the Huskies weren't shy at all in talking about the great plan they had for and the possibilities they foresaw for this homegrown Alabama edge.

"What he did at the high school level was impressive, but it's not anything remotely close to what I think he can become from a physical standpoint," Doherty said.

Again, Alabama will be the one to benefit from Smith if and when he's a polished player and all ready to go on the college football level.

This article first appeared on Washington Huskies on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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