Head coach Kalen DeBoer and his staff recently wrapped a major summer official visit weekend from June 19–21, and the clock is ticking. Here are six high-profile high school targets who are expected to announce their college commitments in the coming days.
3-star OL – Stafford Willis
Willis is a local, homegrown talent from Arab High School in Alabama. Standing about 6’5″ and roughly 280 pounds, he is a three-star interior offensive lineman. Alabama offered him on June 9 after a long period of consideration. He had already visited several programs for official visits before receiving the offer and quickly planned an Alabama visit.
On the 247Sports Composite, Willis is ranked as the No. 81 interior offensive lineman and the No. 1,179 overall player nationally. His final selection list includes Alabama, UCLA, South Carolina, Virginia, and Virginia Tech. Local recruiting analysts largely predict he will stay in-state to wear crimson, with a decision expected Tuesday, June 23, at 7 p.m. at his high school.
3-star EDGE – Tyler Younger
Alabama extended an offer to Younger just last week, and the staff has quickly positioned itself as a strong contender. The Nacogdoches, Texas native is listed at about 6’5″ and 220 pounds, possessing the build of a seasoned veteran. He completed his official visit to Alabama on June 21 and is planning to commit in two days, on June 23, choosing that date in part to celebrate his mother’s birthday.
The Alabama outside linebackers coach, Christian Robinson, has been a major force behind the push for Younger, who is viewed as a hybrid “WOLF” pass-rusher. Recruiting expert Chad Simmons has predicted Alabama as the likely destination.
3-star WR – Cedrick Simmons
Simmons, a three-star wide receiver from Selma High School in Alabama, is set to announce his college choice on June 23, 2026. After back-to-back official visits, he has narrowed his final decisions to a battle between Alabama and Auburn. Auburn holds a slight edge, as insiders estimate about a 51.6% chance of landing him due to their longer-standing pursuit since Simmons’s sophomore year and the fact that two former Selma teammates are already on Auburn’s roster.
Alabama offered Simmons a scholarship around June 9, and while he indicated Alabama is near the top of his list and has strong bonds with coach Derrick Nix, it remains challenging to overcome Auburn’s longer recruitment history in the short window remaining.
4-star EDGE – Jeremiah Beverly
Beverly, a Tuscaloosa native from Hillcrest High School, has seen Alabama move quickly to secure his commitment. The school offered Beverly on June 8, 2026, after he demonstrated standout performance at a summer camp. He is set to announce his commitment on June 26. Alabama is considered the favorite, with national outlets predicting a Tide pledge. Beverly has dreamt of playing for Alabama since childhood and has a former Hillcrest teammate, Zay Hall, already on the roster.
4-star WR – Osani Gayles
Gayles remains one of the top names on Alabama’s board. A highly regarded receiver, he would immediately become a top commitment for the Tide. Since his official visit earlier in the month, Alabama has maintained strong momentum. Even the program’s 2027 quarterback commits, Elijah Haven and Trent Seaborn, have been involved in recruiting him to join the class. Gayles canceled planned visits to Tennessee and Notre Dame, and multiple experts expect him to commit to Alabama when he announces on June 27 on CBS Sports Live.
Four-star safety – Junior Tu’upo
Tu’upo currently lists Texas as the team to beat, but Alabama is making a concerted effort to keep the hometown star in-state. Tu’upo plays for Thompson High School in Alabama and has visited Alabama more than any other school among his finalists, with quarterback teammate Trent Seaborn already committed to Alabama. Seaborn even visited Tuscaloosa recently to encourage Tu’upo to join him. According to Touchdown Alabama, Tu’upo is scheduled to announce his commitment on Friday, June 26. His final five schools are Texas, Alabama, Auburn, Oregon, and Indiana. If Alabama can overcome the lead Texas holds, the Tide could land a significant hometown commitment to cap the week.
Note: This summary reflects ongoing recruiting developments ahead of announced commitments and should be considered in the context of typical college football recruiting timelines, which can shift based on interviews, campus visits, and final decision days.
