Alabama’s Big Recruiting Weekend Already Making Waves
Alabama’s big visit weekend is off to a hot start — and they’ve already shaken things up. One surprise guest in Tuscaloosa? LSU wide receiver commit Kenny Darby. Bama’s WR coach JaMarcus Shephard has been working on him for a while now, and it looks like that effort is starting to pay off.
Darby originally committed to Mississippi State, then flipped to LSU in November. But now? He’s not so sure he made the right call. He’s in Tuscaloosa this weekend and told On3’s Hayes Fawcett that Alabama’s giving him a lot to think about. He’s still technically committed to LSU, but plans to make his final decision — either Bama or LSU — on July 4th.
Shephard, one of the top WR coaches in the country, is clearly making a big impact here. Darby, a 4-star talent from Bossier City, Louisiana, wasn’t even really on Alabama’s radar until recently. He looked solid with LSU, but now Alabama’s in this thing for real.
Of course, LSU’s not letting him go without a fight. Darby’s set to take his official visit to Baton Rouge on June 21, and you can bet Brian Kelly and his staff will be pulling out all the stops to keep him locked in. Both schools have strong résumés when it comes to developing wide receivers. LSU’s sent plenty of talent to the NFL, and Alabama’s done the same — not to mention what DeBoer, Grubb, and Shephard did at Washington with Rome Odunze, who just went 9th overall to the Bears in the 2024 Draft.
Either way, Darby’s going to be in good hands.
**Looking Ahead to 2026**
Bama’s wide receiver room has been on the rise since DeBoer and Shephard took over — and they’re not slowing down. They’ve already transformed the position group, and heading into 2025, Alabama might have one of the best WR corps in the country.
In the 2026 class, Alabama’s sitting pretty for 5-star in-state standout Cederian Morgan. He’s got an official visit to Bama lined up in June, and most experts think the Tide has a solid lead.
Also in town this weekend: 4-star WR Boobie Feaster from DeSoto, Texas. Another big name on the way — 4-star WR Somourian Wingo out of Saint Augustine, Florida — is set to visit on June 13.
Bottom line: With Shephard’s recruiting chops and track record for developing top receivers, Alabama looks set at wideout for years to come.
Bama’s Got This Elite WR Rethinking Everything. Yep, Even His SEC Allegiance.
