End of the Dead: Alabama’s No. 1 class, elite targets returning for Champions Cook-Out

It’s hard to believe the dead period started a month ago (6/25). It came to an end on Thursday for a short window (until 8/1) which provides schools an opportunity to host recruits for unofficial visits. It will re-open on September 1. Alabama experienced one of its greatest runs on the recruiting trail this ‘cold’ summer. The Tide will host its final event this weekend.

The ‘Champions Cook-Out’ as it’s been called for several years (since 2018) will take place on Sunday. Many of the Tide’s commitments will begin arriving on Saturday with several others, especially underclassmen, set to arrive on Sunday.

Previous ‘cook-outs’ have included scavenger hunts, catered meals, various games, campus tours, grilling lessons and much more. This is the first cook-out with Coach Kalen DeBoer and his new staff. There are many support staff who remained from the Nick Saban regime. So expect some similarities and also a few new twists.

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The Cold Family Reunion

Those who have been living under a rock this summer may have missed Alabama has continued as a dominant recruiting force on the national landscape. The Tide has pieced together one of the most impressive classes in the country, obviously, currently ranked No. 1 according to On3 Sports . The rankings are fluid, and will change during the course of the next few months. UA in this position was certainly unexpected less than two months ago.

The event on Sunday, in most years, has been centered on commitments, remaining targets and a small collection of underclassmen. It’s never been a high number/invite event (typically has ranged between 25-35). Alabama, however, never had 23 commitments at this point.

Alabama welcomes a high number of its commitments to T-Town along with their family members. It’s a recruiting event for some, but also a celebration/reunion for the players who are currently part of Coach DeBoer’s first full class. It’s a chance for commitments to socialize with each other, many for the first time, and to reconnect with the coaching staff.

It also helps set the tone of Alabama’s position with each one of these players before the start of the season. Each one will shift focus after this weekend to their own team as fall practice begins. For those who have, and may continue to take visits this fall, also helps a trip to Tuscaloosa as a lasting memory before any game day trips.

Confirmed ‘UA commitment’ attendees: QB Keelon Russell (Duncanvillle, Texas) WR Caleb Cunningham (Ackerman, Miss-Choctaw County), OL Ty Haywood (Denton, Texas-Ryan), OL Micah DeBose (Mobile-Vigor), OL Mal Waldrep (Phenix City-Central), DL Antonio Coleman (Saraland), DL London Simmons (Flowood, Miss-Hartfield Academy), LB Jaedon Harmon (Rome, Ga.), LB Luke Metz (Hoschton, Ga-Mill Creek), LB Abduall Sanders (Santa Ana, Calif-Mater Dei), CB Dijon Lee (Mission Viejo, Calif.), CB Chuck McDonald (Santa Ana, Calif-Mater Dei), S Derick Smith (Selma-Southside).

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Surprises in store?

Standard question for fans these days is who else besides the commitments will show up on campus? There’s less than a handful of remaining targets who have been discussed lately.

The players often discussed include five-star DL Justus Terry (Manchester, Ga.), No. 2 RB AK Dear (Quitman, Miss.) and five-star WR Kaliq Lockett (Sachse, Texas). Dear will only visit Alabama this weekend. Terry is expected to visit Georgia. Lockett does not plan to return before a decision August 7.

Top 100 S Anquon Fegans (Alabaster-Thompson) is returning to Tuscaloosa on Sunday. The Crimson Tide doesn’t appear a serious threat with a decision set for July 29 (Monday). It may, however, open the door for UA to get him back on campus for an official visit later in the fall.

FOLLOW THE ACTION ON THE BOL ROUND TABLE !

The great underclassmen group

Alabama hasn’t offered many in-state recruits in the ’26 or ’27 class. Three of the top five juniors will visit campus in Anthony Jones (Mobile-St. Paul’s), Zyan Gibson (Gadsden City) and Vodney Cleveland (Prattville). Jones and Gibson received offers from Coach DeBoer earlier this year. Cleveland, a 6-foot-2.5, 305-pound lineman, earned his offer after a strong performance in camp last month (6/10).

The Crimson Tide will also host a few ’27 in-state recruits such as Jabarrius Garror (Prichard-Vigor) and Ba’Roc Willis (Moody). Garror received an offer from Alabama in March, and he has taken multiple visits to Tuscaloosa. Willis has been a frequent visitor after receiving an offer last December.

How about this out-of-state ’26 group?

Jackson Cantwell , five-star OL from Nixa High School in Mo.
Brandon Arrington , No. 1 ATH from Mount Miguel HS from La Mesa, Ca.
Blaine Bradford , No. 1 safety from Catholic School in Baton Rouge
Xavier Griffin , No. 2 LB from Gainesville HS in Ga.
Ryder Lyons , No. 3 QB from Folsom HS in Calif.

Pretty strong, right? All are confirmed for the Sunday event. Cantwell is the highest ranked recruit on the guest list (No. 4 overall ). Griffin ( READ HERE ) and Lyons ( READ HERE ) spoke with BOL earlier this week. Others are expected including wide receiver Ryan Mosley (Carrollton) and former UA commitment OL/DL Zykie Helton (Carrollton)- CLICK HERE for the updated list of visitors!

UA commitments visiting elsewhere

Two commitments had scheduled visits to attend Auburn’s Big Cat Weekend (Saturday), five-star WR Caleb Cunninhgam and Top 100 ATH Derick Smith , before a trip to Tuscaloosa on Sunday

Cunningham cancelled his visit plans for the Plains, and he is expected to arrive at the Capstone on Saturday. The No. 2 WR in the country is considered a very solid commitment to the Crimson Tide after his recent decision.

Smith, on the other hand, has been relatively quiet since his official visits to Alabama and Auburn last month. That’s not a new development for Smith who has been one of the quieter players since the early start of his recruitment.

Auburn has been pushing hard, but Alabama is also fighting back. This is definitely an intense, in-state battle for one of the premier players in the country. BOL will monitor closely.

There is still uncertainty with Anthony Rogers (Montgomery-Carver) and his weekend plans. Rogers visited Ohio State last month, and he will possibly visit UGA this weekend. Antonio Coleman took an unofficial visit to Texas on Thursday with quarterback/teammate K.J. Lacey .

Jamarrion Gordon , ’26 corner from Jackson HS in Alabama, announced his commitment to Alabama May 27. He returned in June, but he did not work-out for the Tide after suffering a minor hamstring injury. Gordon will take an unofficial visit to UCF this weekend.

WATCH: BOL previews Champions Cook-Out weekend

Will Alabama add a major commitment?

There is certainly hope from UA’s perspective it will happen. The one most will pay attention in that regard is AK Dear. There is an expectation a decision will happen before the start of the season. Will it happen before he begins fall practice?

Dear has kept things quiet since his de-commitment from Ole Miss on 6/28. Alabama has been in the driver’s seat for the No. 2 running back in the country. Dear confirmed plans for a return to the Tide’s campus (at least on Sunday), and he is not expected elsewhere. A decision is expected soon. BOL has previously predicted Dear to Alabama.

It’s been slow in the ’26 class since the two early commitments in late May- Dorian Barney , Top 100 cornerback from Carrollton High School in Ga., and Jamarrion Gordon (mentioned above). The primary focus has been in securing the current class, which has been ultra successful.

Alabama will certainly want its current commitments to re-affirm their status, and while it will pursue a few others in the ’25 class, the focus can begin to shift a little bit more the underclassmen especially after the season gets underway. UA will host several elite targets in the ’26 class this weekend.

None of the underclassmen visitors have indicated plans to announce decisions soon. That said, there are few players who grew up as fans of the Crimson Tide set to return to campus this weekend including No. 2 LB Xavier Griffin (Gainesville, Ga,) and No, 3 corner Zyan Gibson (Gadsden City).

An early commitment is always great, but it’s still early, regardless. There’s a long process ahead for the ’26 and ’27 classes. This is more about building stronger relationships with coaches, developing friendships with younger players on the team who are still on campus by the time they arrive, learning more about the overall program and growing comfortable with the surroundings.

Want to talk with the BOL staff and also thousands of other Alabama fans about Ty Haywood and all the latest recruiting intel? CLICK HERE to join daily conversations about the Crimson Tide and much more on the BOL Round Table .

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