Cold Summer Cook-Out: Sneak Peek at the star recruits returning to Alabama in late July

Alabama will host its final recruiting event of the summer on July 28. The ‘Champions Cook-Out’, as it’s previously been called, will close the door on what has been one of the best summers in Crimson Tide recruiting lore. This is also the final weekend Alabama, along with other schools, will host recruits in July for the foreseeable future.

A new NCAA rule, which goes into effect on August 1, will extend the July dead period to 31-calendar days beginning on July 1. This new rule allows coaches an opportunity to prepare on the upcoming season rather than giving a lot of attention to recruits the weekend before the start of fall practice.

This is not likely the end of a cook-out at the Capstone. Expect Alabama to do something similar next year whether it’s a decision to move to sometime in the spring or in June. July visits will come to a halt doesn’t mean throwing parties for recruits in T-Town will ever come to an end.

BOL expects several players to join the guest list in the coming weeks especially with a few who are on ‘decision watch’.

Alabama has 20 commitments in its ’25 class. There won’t be a high number of ‘targets’ in Tuscaloosa for the cook-out as most have made their decisions. So the majority of visitors should have their decisions made, and will also include some of the top underclassmen in the country. This also isn’t a camp or Junior Day type setting. Alabama will invite highly regarded targets to this event.

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Keelon Russell, Dijon Lee returning to Alabama

Alabama will host several of its commitments for the invite-only. Elite 11 winner Keelon Russell , Top 100 QB from Duncanville High School in Texas, is expected among the contingent of commitments who will enjoy one final weekend before the complete focus shifts to the upcoming high school football season.

Several additional players who announced their commitment to UA in June informed BOL of plans to attend the final summer shindig. Dijon Lee , five-star corner from Mission Viejo HS in Calif., Chuck McDonald , Top 100 corner from Mater Dei HS in Santa Ana, Cali., Dawson Merritt , Top 100 Wolf from Blue Valley HS in Overland Park, Kansas, Micah DeBose , four-star IOL from Vigor HS in Prichard, and London Simmons , three-star DL from Hartifield Academy in Flowood, Miss., have booked trips to T-Town.

Derick Smith , Top 100 athlete from Southside High School in Selma, will also attend. Smith is the No. 2 player in Alabama. He took officials to Alabama and Auburn in June. He maintains a solid commitment status with the Tide, but the Tigers continue to pursue.

The Georgia linebacker trio of Duke Johnson (Eastman-Dodge County), Jaedon Harmon (Rome) and Luke Metz (Hoschton-Mill Creek) have also confirmed plans to return for the cook-out. Each player took official visits elsewhere in June, but all remain solid with their commitment to Alabama.

“Bama just does it so differently than everyone else,” Metz told BOL after his official visit . “It’s just so different there. They are just better than everyone. I can’t explain it. We can really get just about anyone we want right now. It’s just the vibe of the program. The whole ‘LANK’ mentality has changed everything.”

We expect more UA commitments to attend. These are the only ones who have confirmed plans .

Notable juniors are also slated for late July visits

• Brandon Arrington , No. 1 ATH, Mount Miguel HS in La Mesa, Calif.
• Anthony ‘Tank’ Jones , No. 1 EDGE, St. Paul’s in Mobile
• Zyan Gibson , No. 3 Cornerback, Gadsden (Ala.) City
• Xavier Griffin , No. 2 LB, Gainesville HS in Ga.

Arrington, who also ranks the No. 7 overall player in the ’26 On300, will take his first-ever visit to Alabama on the 28th ( Interview with BOL ). He is recruited as a receiver. The Tide will look to continue its success on the West Coast. UA currently has six Cali commitments in the ’25 class, including Chuck McDonald (mentioned above), who grew up with Arrington.

Alabama will also host two of the top three overall players in state. Tank Jones attended Coach DeBoer’s first summer camp on May 30 and will return. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound athlete is considered a ‘Wolf’ or ‘Bandit’ for the Crimson Tide.

Gibson received an offer from UA in March. He grew up a big fan of the program, and was also in Tuscaloosa in June. Alabama has two DB commitments in its ’26 class- Jamarrion Gordon (Jackson) and Dorian Barney (Suwanee, Ga-Peachtree Ridge). Gibson is considered a priority target.

The Crimson Tide will also host (Xavier) Griffin for the third time this year. The Top 100 linebacker recently visited on June 7. He received an offer from Alabama earlier this year. Earlier connection with new staff has been significant in Griffin’s recruitment.

Alabama is on the short list (final four) for ’26 No. 1 QB Faizon Brandon (Greensboro, N.C-Grimsley). Brandon announces a decision August 3. He told BOL after visiting Alabama (6/21-23) a return for the cook-out is in consideration. The Tide made a massive move with Brandon after the recent trip. A return may deliver the knock out for Coach DeBoer and OC Nick Sheridan .

Expect more underclassmen added to the list in the coming weeks.

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Future additions to UA, and the cook-out?

The biggest question right now is ‘who commits to Alabama this month?’ There are several players who are on the commitment ‘watch list’. The players are not giving anything away regarding their visit plans at the end of the month. Caleb Cunningham , for instance, says he will commit this month. Confirmation regarding a trip to UA on 7/28 would strongly implicate the destination.

Cunningham isn’t the only Magnolia State recruit we are monitoring closely this month. AK Dear , No. 2 RB from Quitman HS, recently decommitted from Ole Miss. Alabama is considered the front-runner in his recruitment, though a decision date has not be specified.

Another significant target to track closely this month is Ty Haywood , five-star OL from Ryan HS in Denton, Texas. Haywood is expected to announce a decision before the end of this month, though he has not said when it will take place. Alabama currently has a 95.3-percent chance to add the Top 10 overall recruit according to the On3 Sports RPM .

There isn’t much room left at the inn. The players mentioned above are all on the Tide’s short list of remaining targets, and all are expected to decide within the next few weeks. A few who are not expected to have decisions by the end of the month include five-star DL Justus Terry , five-star WR Kaliq Lockett and No. 1 LB Ty Jackson . Lockett is scheduled to decide on August 7. A lot of eyes will follow to see if Lockett makes it anywhere on the final weekend before the announcement.

It’s been a cold summer for Alabama on the recruiting trail. The spread that will be provided by the Crimson Tide is far from the coldest BBQ ever, but we expect it will cap off the best summer Alabama’s had in a very long time.

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