Alabama commit talks Champions Cook-Out visit, commitment status

Most of Alabama’s 2025 class assembled this past weekend for their future program’s Champions Cook-Out , which took place Sunday afternoon.

In attendance for the cook-out was Darrell “Duke” Johnson , who is the longest-tenured commitment of the Kalen DeBoer era. Johnson joined forces with the Tide back on March 20, and has been one of the leaders of the class ever since then.

The top-50 overall prospect out of Eastman, Georgia, enjoyed catching up with his future coaches and teammates last weekend.

“It went great,” Johnson told BamaOnLine . “The people there are always great. Getting time with the commits there and the people that I’m going to be around for the next three-to-four years, that was great, too. I was talking with Coach Kane, Dijon Lee , Keelon [Russell ]… mostly everybody that’s committed. It was just great vibes there the whole time. Everybody was laughing and smiling. No bad energy. We’re just ready to get together and win.”

According to Johnson, the atmosphere at the cookout was what he hoped it would be. Recruits participated in activities such as playing the new college football video game, hanging out with their families, and doing a scavenger hunt, while also being treated to delicious food.

Johnson’s plate included brisket, ribs, and wings.

“The vibes were great,” Johnson said. “Even the scavenger hunt, we were all competing but laughing and smiling the whole time. Everybody was having a good time. The coaches, players, moms, dads… we were just having a great time. Coach DeBoer was laughing and smiling as well.”

Alabama was the only school that Johnson visited over the weekend.

He was initially planning to go to Auburn’s event on Saturday, but ended up removing that from his schedule.

“I canceled it,” Johnson said. “I was going to go to Auburn, but there was no point. I’m locked in with Bama. Don’t keep entertaining the rival school. You see what happened with the other dudes who did that.”

Referencing the recent departures to Bama’s class in Antonio Coleman and Derick Smith , Johnson has no concerns about the group moving forward.

“We still have a great class,” Johnson said. “The dudes that stayed, we’re locked in right now… they’re kind of making it easier for us. If you’re going to leave, you’re going to leave.”

Johnson shares insight into prized 2025 RB Akylin Dear’s Alabama visit

Kane Wommack is going to be Duke Johnson’s position coach and defensive coordinator when he gets to Alabama. He envisions the 6-foot-and-a-half, 204-pound Johnson being versatile in his defense and not being contained to just one role.

On Sunday’s visit, however, it was more so about continuing to get to know each other off the field.

“Me and him always have a good vibe every time we talk,” Johnson said of Wommack. “When we had the scavenger hunt, he was my coach. He had the linebackers and was like, ‘We better not lose.’ And we went out there and won.”

And what does Johnson think of the relationship he’s built with Wommack thus far?

“Some days, you’re going to be down. But he’ll make you laugh,” Johnson replied. “When you first get there, you’ll probably miss your family and your home a little bit. But he’s taking the torch from your mom. He makes you laugh and makes you feel at home, like a second dad. That was a good time to hang out with him.”

Wommack has done an exceptional job recruiting for Bama. And Johnson has returned the favor as he’s been active on social media and communicating with top targets behind the scenes.

A prospect still high on Alabama’s radar is elite running back Akylin Dear , who was at Sunday’s cookout as well.

“He was with the running backs coach the whole time. He was laughing,” Johnson said of Dear. “Took him to the film room, watching film, and told him what he was going to be doing. He wasn’t even around us that much, but he was. He wanted to be with the coaches and the vibe. Taking him on tour. So, I think we’re going to get him.”

There’s still recruiting left to do for Duke Johnson

Piggybacking off that last comment, Johnson is not yet done with his pursuit on the recruiting trail this cycle.

The nation’s No. 2 athlete has his sights set on helping Alabama close out strong in Kalen DeBoer’s first class.

“My commitment status is still 100 percent, 1,000 percent,” Johnson said. “Recruiting-wise, just get some more offensive guys for Keelon to work with. Get everybody out in space and high-tempo like how we are. On defense, get some more guys on the back-end to make plays, like Malachi Moore . Get more guys like him, and go out there and play.”

Johnson cited Alabama’s coaching, development, and the people in the program as the main reasons he’s solid with his commitment.

He also noted that he and his fellow commits talk in a group chat almost every single day. And Johnson made sure this past weekend that everyone was on the same page.

“I about asked everybody that. We were all chilling and we were like, ‘Are you locked in? Are you going to flip?'” Johnson said. “We’re like, ‘There’s no point in flipping. We’re home.’ The people here, the vibes here, everybody is amazing.

“It’s going to be the first class after Coach Saban,” Johnson added. “Everybody thinks Bama is going to go downhill, so it’s going to put a target on our back to bring Bama up. We’re all going to be working hard.”

As for what’s next, Johnson intends on being at Alabama’s first three home games of the year. Those are against Western Kentucky (Aug. 31), USF (Sept. 7), and Georgia (Sept. 28).

He is also considering trips to Florida State, Michigan, and/or UCF this fall.

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

The post Alabama commit talks Champions Cook-Out visit, commitment status appeared first on On3 .