Five-Star Tilt: Alabama aiming to close small, lethal WR class

Alabama had previously established itself as one of the top producers of NFL wide receivers. There is an extensive list of superstars who suited up for the Crimson Tide during the Nick Saban era from Julio Jones to Heisman Trophy winner, DeVonta Smith . Coach Kalen DeBoer wants to keep that tradition alive.

Coach DeBeor It’s already off to a great start especially after closing two-time Mr. Football (Alabama) Ryan Williams after he de-committed on the day Coach Saban retired.

Alabama had a bigger than expected receiver class in ’24- Williams, Rico Scott , Amari Jefferson and Aeryn ‘Bubba’ Hampton . Former five-star tight end Caleb Odom also moved to receiver during the Tide’s spring practice. Numbers in the ’25 class will not end up close to the same. BOL expects Alabama to sign two-to-three at the position.

There are plenty of factors involved which can also include NIL. Numbers, not just at the position, but overall also factor into the equation. Take one more here, lose one there. Receiver just isn’t as much as a priority from a numbers standpoint, but the new staff is still looking to make a significant impact on the recruiting trail. There is a strong chance for at least one five-star after his official visit, and a potential addition may push the Tide to the best offensive class in the country.

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Five-star leaning Alabama, decision soon

Caleb Cunningham , No. 2 wide receiver from Choctaw County High School in Ackerman, Mississippi, announced his top six schools on Tuesday evening. The reveal dropped a few days after Cunningham named Alabama the No. 1 school on his list. He also altered the commitment time-frame after returning home from Tuscaloosa this past weekend.

The five-star athlete from the Magnolia State took official visits to Alabama, Auburn, Florida and Tennessee. He also took an unofficial visit to Ole Miss in June. Mississippi State was the final school in the top group despite not taking a visit to Starkville this month. The original plan was to announce a decision later this fall. Cunningham has decided, however, to commit “sometime in July.”

“It is about the people for me,” Cunningham told On3 Sports . “Where do I feel most comfortable? That is what I am looking for. Then I look at the development, the coaches record with receivers and how I could be coached and developed. The quarterback is big for me, too. I want to see who I would play with, who would throw me the ball and the connection we have. Those will be the biggest factors in my decision.”

It was a visit full of emotional highs for Cunningham. He announced Auburn the leader in his recruitment after an official visit on May 31-June 2. The Florida Gators were then a co-leader after a trip to Gainesville. Cunningham also said Tennessee was in the top contention after a visit to Knoxville. Alabama secured the final official visit.

“It really didn’t feel like an OV. They separated themselves,” Cunningham told BOL after naming the Crimson Tide No. 1 on his list . “All the other OVs, a lot of them like to have fun . But Bama really meant business. They were teaching me a lot about that program. That’s one of the greatest programs in college football. Everybody really should say that. You can’t go against Bama. People hate on Bama, but you can’t hate on them. They’re the real deal. They have all the resources that you need.”

On3 Sports’ National Recruiting experts Chad Simmons and Steve Wiltfong each submitted an RPM (prediction) in favor of Alabama after Cunningham’s weekend in T-Town.

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Lockett, Meadows to announce before the season

The biggest surprise of the month happened for Alabama may have happened with five-star receiver Kaliq Lockett , from Sachse High School in Texas, decided to take an official visit. Lockett had not recently mentioned Alabama as a top contender in his recruitment. The news regarding the visit took place about a week after Elite 11 MVP Keelon Russell, also a Texas high school (Duncanville) star, flipped his commitment from SMU to Alabama.

“Their main message was that if I choose Bama, Coach (JaMarcus) Shephard is going to look out for me and maximize my capabilities,” Lockett told BOL after his official visit (June 17-19) . “Coach Shep is a great wide receivers coach. You’ve seen what he’s done with Rome Odunze , Ja’Lynn Polk , and Jalen McMillan at Washington, and what Coach DeBoer did at Washington not having the amount of resources that Bama has now. Now that he’s at Alabama, I can just imagine what’s going to happen with the offense.”

Texas received the final official visit from Lockett this past weekend. He has a top six which includes the Crimson Tide, Longhorns, Florida State, LSU and Texas A&M. A decision date is set for August 7. Alabama is a late, emerging contender in his recruitment. Alabama is on the ‘shorter’ list with Texas and FSU also pushing hard for Lockett’s commitment.

Alabama is also heavily involved with Derek Meadows , the No. 1 player in Nevada. The Bishop Gorman star is closer to a commitment date after a trip to Tuscaloosa this past weekend. He took official visits to UA, Georgia, LSU, Michigan and Notre Dame. The 6-foot-6, 205-pound athlete also took an unofficial to Alabama during the spring.

His father, Deshawn Meadows, spoke with BOL after the most recent visit in T-Town. He noted a decision date was set for September 1. An announcement, however, is expected a little bit sooner. A lot of eyes are on Meadows with the potential choice happening sometime in July. The current feel is Meadows will choose between Alabama and Notre Dame.

“The facilities, the people and camaraderie amongst the coaches and staff,” Deshawn Meadows said regarding Alabama after the official. visit. “They work well with each other. The camaraderie amongst the players. All the players seem to pop out as leaders. So, it’s a pretty good situation there.”

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Current BOL Forecast:

Alabama has been in the race for Cunningham since ‘Coach Shep’ met with him earlier this year. Cunningham had expressed interest in the Tide with the previous staff, and said UA was not going to make his top group before Coach Shep visited his school in January. He took an unofficial visit to Alabama March 3. He stated to BOL after the visit, “I didn’t even want to leave.” The trip improved the Tide’s chances, but there was still work to do.

There was a sense Alabama would make a lasting impression during the official visit, but with a decision date previously expected in December, there wasn’t an expectation of an announcement happening a lot sooner. Alabama has put itself in an outstanding position with Cunningham, who ranks as the No. 1 player in Mississippi. The Tide with the current edge in his recruitment also doesn’t feel like it’s ‘short-lived’.

Alabama currently has one receiver commitment, Lotzeir Brooks , who ranks the No. 100 overall player in the On300 . Brooks may be one of the most underrated recruits in the country- WATCH HIGHLIGHTS

The Crimson Tide has been looking to add at least one more to the position group. They only hosted four other receivers, three who were mentioned (Cunningham, Lockett, and Meadows), and Travis Smith , also in the Top 100 from Westlake High School in Atlanta.

The expectation, as it stands now, Alabama will add one-to-two between Cunningham, Lockett and Meadows to go along with Brooks in the ’25 class. Smith has been predicted to Tennessee. Alabama is trending heavily here with Cunningham as his commitment draws near. It doesn’t seem like Alabama will land both- Cunningham and Lockett. The staff certainly would not turn both down.

Alabama can celebrate if it can get one of the two, but there is also a belief that the staff has a very legitimate chance to also add Meadows, who brings a little bit different skill-set than the other players mentioned. He is similar to Alabama freshman receiver Caleb Odom, just not as thick, and about inch taller.

A potential class of Caleb Cunningham (or Lockett), Lotzeir Books and Derek Meadows is about as good as it can get, and it’s a realistic path. Still plenty of work to do behind the scenes for the Crimson Tide. A dead period doesn’t mean things are quiet. It just means players are not visiting campus. Daily phone calls, zooms, texts messages, etc.. are continuous until these players announce decisions, and even after that.

Many already think of Alabama as one of the top schools in the country as it pertains to wide receiver development. Now throw in an offensive-minded head coach, a magnetic position coach, the resources and momentum of this first, full-year class for the new staff, and it’s no surprise the best players at the position remain extremely attracted to the Crimson Tide.

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