Alabama fans, you’re going to love this: SEC legend Paul Finebaum says the Crimson Tide’s recent recruiting tear under Kalen DeBoer feels like a throwback to Nick Saban’s glory days.
In a recent appearance, Finebaum raved about DeBoer’s surge on the trail, calling it “one of the great recruiting runs we’ve seen in some years.” According to Finebaum, it’s almost like “Nick Saban is running the ship again” as the Tide keeps stockpiling elite talent.
After a slow start in the 2026 recruiting cycle, Alabama has roared to life in the past two weeks, adding nine commits since June 17. The haul includes five-star running back Ezavier Crowell, four-star tight end Mack Sutter, three-star linebacker Zay Hall, and headliner five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin — the No. 27 overall player nationally. Griffin’s commitment was especially sweet, as Alabama pulled him straight out of Kirby Smart’s backyard in Georgia, marking the fifth 2026 Georgia recruit DeBoer has landed.
When DeBoer arrived from Washington, many doubted he could match Saban’s legendary recruiting prowess in the SEC. His previous classes at Washington ranked just 26th and 47th nationally. But with Alabama’s resources — and help from general manager Courtney Morgan — DeBoer has proven he can recruit at a championship level.
Now comes the hard part: turning elite recruits into on-field results. While DeBoer’s recruiting has the Tide faithful buzzing, Alabama fans and boosters expect College Football Playoff appearances — or better — starting this fall. The recruiting wins are great, but the pressure is on for DeBoer to turn them into wins on Saturdays.
Finebaum Praises DeBoer: Tide Recruiting Resembles Saban’s Glory Days
