For those who were ready to write off the Alabama football program following the sudden departure of legendary head coach Nick Saban back in January, the first few months of the Kalen DeBoer era in Tuscaloosa have proven to be reason for pause. Although Alabama is still over two months away from taking the field for the first time under the former Washington head coach, playing their season-opener against Western Kentucky, what DeBoer has managed to do from a team-building perspective is enough to give Crimson Tide fans hope for both the immediate and long-term future of the storied program.
As things stand heading into the 2024 season, Alabama boasts the 2nd-ranked recruiting class and 3rd-ranked transfer portal class for the 2024 season, per 247 Sports, a surprising development given Saban's stature in Tuscaloosa and DeBoer's relatively unknown career trajectory. But even beyond the 2024 season, the Tide are in good shape. Alabama currently has the nation's 3rd-ranked recruiting class for 2025, and as of Sunday night, it continued to get better.
“London Simmons, a 6-foot-2.5, 305-pound defensive lineman from Hartfield Academy in Flowood, Mississippi, has committed to the University of Alabama,” writes Andrew Bone of On3. “Simmons revealed the decision on Sunday evening after taking an official visit with the Crimson Tide this weekend.”
Simmons, who is the 16th-ranked player in the state of Mississippi and the 52nd highest graded defensive lineman in the 2025 recruiting class, shared with On3 that Kalen DeBoer's resume was a big reason why he ultimately decided to commit to the University of Alabama.
“The biggest thing is to win,” Simmons shared as he announced his commitment to Alabama. “Looking at Coach DeBoer’s winning record, he’s like 104-12. So, he knows how to win. I feel like Alabama is in good hands with Coach DeBoer. Great hands.”
That record is not a misprint, nor did London Simmons get it wrong. Kalen DeBoer's head coaching record is 104-12, though 70 of those games (and 67 of those wins) came at the NAIA level with the University of Sioux Falls. But even still, a 37-9 record in four combined seasons at Fresno State and Washington is nothing to scoff at, and it's a big reason why Alabama so quickly and aggressively pursued DeBoer immediately following Nick Saban's retirement.
The rest of Alabama's 2025 recruiting class
London Simmons turned down offers from major programs such as LSU, Florida State, NC State, and Arkansas in favor of Alabama, but it's fair to say that Simmons may be the low man on the totem poll when he shows up to Tuscaloosa next spring. At this moment, Simmons is the lowest-ranked player of the 15 who have already committed to play for Alabama starting in 2025.
Earlier this month, Bama landed what is so far their biggest prize of the 2025 recruiting class, quarterback Keelon Russell (ranked 39th overall nationally, 7th among quarterbacks). Russell is one of four top 100 recruits who have already committed to Alabama in 2025, joining linebacker Darrell Johnson (#49), safety Derick Smith (#78), and defensive lineman (Antonio Coleman). Additionally, the Tide have received commitments from #4 running back Anthony Rogers, #13 cornerback Chuck McDonald, and a pair of big-bodied interior offensive linemen, Michael Carroll and Mal Waldrop.
Assuming that DeBoer finds instant success on the field, as he has off the field, in 2024, then we can expect that Alabama will once again be a major player in the transfer portal yet again next year, giving Tide fans even more reason for optimism in life without Nick Saban.
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