Kalen DeBoer, Alabama Football Lose Two Elite Recruits in Less Than One Hour

It's been a rough offseason for the Alabama Crimson Tide after Nick Saban announced his retirement shortly after the end of last season. Although the program found a solid replacement in Kalen DeBoer, the Crimson Tide just haven't had much luck reeling in top recruits. On Wednesday, the program lost two elite recruits in less than an hour.

Zymear Smith, a four-star athlete, and Myles Johnson, a three-star linebacker, both decomitted from Alabama on Wednesday, according to Anna Snyder of the Tuscaloosa News. It's a massive blow to the Crimson Tide, which expected both Smith and Johnson to join the roster in 2025.

That's a less-than-ideal situation for a program entering a new era without Nick Saban. But it's not all bad for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

"With Johnson and Smith's decommitments, Alabama's 2025 recruiting class now holds 21 pledges and ranks second in the nation per the 247Sports Composite . Alabama has picked up 11 commitments in its 2025 class since the start of June."

Although it's not a great look to lose two top recruits in less than an hour, the Crimson Tide are still looking solid for the upcoming season. DeBoer has the experience necessary to lead a team like Alabama, especially after taking the Washington Huskies to the championship game against the Michigan Wolverines.

DeBoer spent the early part of his coaching career working closely with quarterbacks and wide receivers. He's the type of coach who sees the game from a quarterback's perspective, which is great news for Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe.

DeBoer quickly became a hot name in the coaching cycle after successful seasons at Fresno State and Washington. He aims to continue that success with the Crimson Tide.

After conference realignment and the departure of Nick Saban, Alabama expects to be a top contender in college football this upcoming season. It may face some hurdles along the way, but the program has been one of the best in the country for years. If the they can remain competitive in the SEC, the Crimson Tide could find themselves in the College Football Playoffs once again.

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