By Moses Joshua 
Jett Thomalla’s eye-opening week in Los Angeles hints at another quarterback coup for Kalen DeBoer’s Crimson Tide staff
Flip to the Tide, Rise at the Elite 11
Late last week, Alabama fans hadn’t yet heard much about Jett Thomalla, the towering 6-foot-5 passer from Missouri Valley High. Then he stunned college-football circles by flipping his commitment from Iowa State to the Crimson Tide—and immediately backed up that decision with a breakout showing at the Elite 11 Finals.
Thomalla’s recruitment now reads like a signature Kalen DeBoer story: find the overlooked arm, trust the traits, and watch the ranking services scramble. Currently listed at No. 232 nationally and the No. 16 quarterback in the 2026 class, Thomalla is already trending upward after three days in Los Angeles.
Elite 11 Numbers That Turned Heads
- Day 2 “Pro-Day” script: 18-of-20 completions
- 7-on-7 action (Day 3): 14-of-21, four touchdowns, one interception
- Final evaluations: No. 10 quarterback per On3; No. 7 per 247Sports
Observers praised his “arm strength, poise, and an effortless touch” on deep and intermediate routes. A shaky first day gave way to a controlled, confident performance on Wednesday, followed by a red-zone clinic during Thursday’s 7-on-7 period. He didn’t walk away with the MVP—five-star Keelon Russell grabbed that honor in 2024—but Thomalla showed every throw in the book, from layered fades to rope-tight seam balls.
DeBoer, Grubb, Sheridan: QB Whisperers Reload
Finding and grooming quarterbacks has become a calling card for Alabama’s new regime. Kalen DeBoer, offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, and quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan turned Michael Penix Jr. from an injury-plagued Big Ten talent into a Heisman finalist and the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Last cycle they flipped the little-known Keelon Russell from SMU; six months later he was an Elite 11 MVP and a consensus five-star. Thomalla may not vault quite that high, but the pattern is hard to miss: the Tide trust their evaluations—and they keep getting proven right on the biggest stages.
What Comes Next in Tuscaloosa
Thomalla heads to Tuscaloosa this weekend for his official visit, transitioning from Elite 11 spotlight to full-time recruiter for Alabama’s 2026 class. He’ll sell fellow prospects on DeBoer’s wide-open system and the chance to join a quarterback room that will soon feature Russell.
From the outside, following such a heralded quarterback might look daunting. Inside the program, it speaks to Thomalla’s confidence—and Alabama’s insistence on stacking elite arms year after year. If his Elite 11 trajectory is any indication, the Crimson Tide may have uncovered their next big passer before the rest of the country caught on.
In other words: the quarterback factory in Tuscaloosa is still humming, and Jett Thomalla’s debut flight just cleared the national radar.