Paul Finebaum Just Gave Alabama Fans Something to Cheer About — And It’s All About DeBoer’s Recruiting Heat Check
Love him or hate him, when Paul Finebaum talks, the SEC listens — and this time, Bama fans definitely want to hear what he’s saying. Why? Because he’s giving head coach Kalen DeBoer his flowers, and honestly, it’s hard to argue with him right now.
After a bit of a slow start in the 2026 recruiting cycle, DeBoer has absolutely flipped the script — and then some. In just four days, Alabama went from “meh” to monster mode, landing a stack of commitments that shot them straight into the top 10 nationally.
Let’s break it down:
* Thursday: Five-star RB Ezavier Crowell and four-star TE Mack Sutter commit
* Friday: Three-star LB Zay Hall hops on board
Sunday: Five-star LB Xavier Griffin makes it official
That last one? Huge. Griffin is ranked 27th nationally and is one of Georgia’s top prospects — and if you know anything about the SEC, you know how hard it is to steal talent from Kirby Smart’s backyard. But DeBoer’s doing just that — five Georgia recruits already, including Griffin and five-star CB Jorden Edmonds. That’s not luck — that’s surgical.
Now, when DeBoer landed in Tuscaloosa, folks weren’t too worried about his play-calling or QB development — the guy’s résumé speaks for itself. But recruiting at the SEC level? That was the big question mark. After all, his last class at Washington ranked 26th, and the one before that was 47th. Not exactly Saban territory.
But fast forward to now, and DeBoer’s acting like he’s been doing this forever. Thanks to Bama’s stacked resources and GM Courtney Morgan, he’s putting together classes that would make Nick Saban smile — maybe even nod in approval (which is practically a standing ovation in Saban terms).
That said, let’s not get carried away — this is Alabama. Just pulling in five-stars doesn’t guarantee job security. If DeBoer doesn’t get Bama deep into the Playoff next season, the fanbase and boosters will let him hear about it. In Tuscaloosa, it’s always championship or bust.
So yeah, 2026 recruiting is hot. But the real test? Fall 2025. And the expectations? Let’s just say the leash isn’t long.
