During the Nick Saban era, it was widely accepted that the Alabama Crimson Tide would dominate recruiting in the Yellowhammer State. However, with Saban now retired, is that still the case?
College Football Network examines the shifting dynamics of in-state recruiting and Hugh Freeze’s efforts to reshape the narrative. Was the class of 2025 an outlier, or does it signal a potential Auburn Tigers takeover in Alabama?
Auburn Cleans Up in State of Alabama Class of 2025 Recruiting as Crimson Tide Struggle
When Alabama hired Kalen DeBoer as its head coach, it was widely anticipated that there would be a slight drop-off in recruiting. DeBoer’s reputation has always leaned more toward player development than landing top-tier prospects directly from the high school ranks.
This approach hasn’t hindered DeBoer’s career, as he boasts one of the most impressive head coaching records in the history of college football.
However, while a small decline in recruiting following the end of the Saban era was expected, Alabama’s struggles within the Yellowhammer State are particularly striking.
The Crimson Tide signed only one of the top 25 recruits from Alabama this season, according to On3’s composite rankings—a number matched by programs like the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, and Arkansas Razorbacks.
For context, in Nick Saban’s final recruiting cycle, Alabama landed nine of the top 25 in-state recruits, including five of the top six. This year, the Tide’s lone top 25 recruit is interior offensive lineman Micah DeBose, ranked 14th in the state.
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Compounding matters, rival Auburn has surged under head coach Hugh Freeze.
The Tigers signed 10 of the top 12 in-state recruits from Alabama, a testament to Freeze’s emphasis on locking down local talent. Since arriving on the Plains, Freeze has prioritized in-state recruiting, signing three top 25 Alabama recruits in 2023 and eight in 2024. Notably, two of Auburn’s in-state signees—Cam Coleman (No. 1) and Kaleb Harris (No. 50)—earned spots on College Football Network’s Freshman All-America Team, with another narrowly missing the cut.
The class of 2025 reflects an even greater focus, with Auburn signing 12 of the state’s top 25 recruits. While the impact of these players remains to be seen, on paper, it’s a remarkably strong haul that underscores the shifting balance of power in Alabama’s recruiting battles.
Time to Panic? What Alabama’s Lack of In-State Recruiting Means
Let’s add some context before pressing the panic button on Alabama’s recruiting efforts.
Given the above information, you might assume the Crimson Tide struggled to recruit effectively in the 2025 class. However, that’s far from the full story.
But the Crimson Tide finished second nationally. They signed our third-ranked quarterback in the 2025 class and seven other top 100 recruits in On3’s national composite rankings. They signed 11 players in the top 15 of their position. But only one of them is from the state of Alabama.
Auburn’s class was impressive, but Alabama’s was better.
Last year, when the Crimson Tide started to see their iron grip on the Yellowhammer State loosened, they signed superstar receiver Ryan Williams and highly productive corner Jaylen Mbakwe.
It’s also important to note that while last year’s class from Alabama was historic, this year’s is — on paper — one of the weakest in recent memory.
The 2024 class included four five-stars from Alabama, Williams and Mbakwe, who signed with the Crimson Tide, Cam Coleman to Auburn, and edge rusher Jordan Ross, who signed with the Tennessee Volunteers.
The 2025 class has just one: Na’eem Offord, whom Auburn tried to flip from the Ohio State Buckeyes before he ultimately signed with the Oregon Ducks. It’s the fifth time in the last 10 cycles that the top recruit from Alabama left the state, so it’s not unprecedented.
Anytime there’s a coaching change, there will be a shift in recruiting philosophy. Saban locked down Alabama but grabbed top players from all over the country.
DeBoer is taking advantage of other areas. The Crimson Tide signed four of the top 11 recruits from California, more than any other team. They also got the second-ranked Junior College recruit in the country, who hails from Los Angeles.
While teams always want to lock down their state, that was never going to happen for the Crimson Tide, at least early in DeBoer’s tenure. Compared to the Tigers, Alabama’s staff has a more national presence. Some Alabama coaches have in-state contacts, but their recruiting footprint is more established elsewhere.
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Auburn had a great class. But let’s not pretend that a 6-6 team has passed the 9-3 Crimson Tide, especially when DeBoer is known for his Year 2 jump.
Good job, Tigers, but you have a long way to go.
Alabama is still king, but Auburn is making a run.
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