There’s been plenty of unease among Alabama supporters regarding the 2027 recruiting haul, but Kalen DeBoer and his staff have deliberately opted for a leaner, more budget-conscious group in that cycle. That approach stems from a heavy emphasis on keeping the current roster intact for 2027. With only nine seniors on the entire squad, there simply isn’t space for a large incoming freshman class. Should any pressing needs arise, they’ll turn to the Transfer Portal to fill those gaps.
The 2028 cycle, however, tells a completely different tale. DeBoer has already shown early aggressiveness in positioning Alabama favorably for that class, and that approach has started paying off. The Crimson Tide currently holds the No. 1 composite class for 2028 with seven pledges, headlined by elite in-state quarterback Kingston Preyear.
Alabama also sits in the pole position for several other blue-chip targets, including 5-star in-state offensive lineman Joey Fleming. The in-state crop for 2028 is central to the game plan, and even though it’s still early, the Tide holds a clear advantage over Auburn for the state’s premier prospects.
That group appears to include 5-star linebacker Nehemiah McCary, the nation’s No. 2 linebacker and the top-ranked player in the state for 2028. He’s pursued by every major program, Auburn included, but On3’s Chad Simmons seems confident in Alabama’s standing with the Maplesville native. On Thursday, he logged an expert prediction via the Rivals Prediction Machine favoring McCary to land with the Tide.
He also joined Steve Wiltfong in submitting a prediction for Fleming to choose Alabama.
Kalen DeBoer and Alabama hold the upper hand over Auburn for 5-star LB Nehemiah McCary
McCary has referred to Alabama as his “dream school” and appears to have built a strong connection with outside linebackers coach Christian Robinson. While McCary is a versatile defender, Alabama is recruiting him specifically for the Wolf role within Kane Wommack’s defensive scheme.
Should Alabama secure commitments from McCary and Fleming, alongside Preyear, that would give DeBoer the top three in-state players in the composite rankings so far. The Tide are also in solid standing with the next three prospects on that list: offensive lineman Samuel Bailey, tight end Kaleb Ballard, and safety CJ Craig-James.
A clean sweep of the state’s top talent in 2028 would go a long way toward countering the recruiting momentum Alex Golesh has established in the 2027 cycle. Golesh will surely push back against the optics of Alabama going six-for-six on the state’s premier prospects, but even with plenty of time remaining before next December’s early signing period, it’s hard not to like where Alabama stands with its 2028 priorities right now.
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