After Alabama’s Nick Saban announced his resignation as head coach, the dust has started to settle. Kalen DeBoer, a
former Washington coach who guided the Huskies to the national championship game the previous year, was hired
by the Crimson Tide. Although DeBoer took over with a roster full of elite athletes, a number of Crimson Tide
players, including previous top recruits like safety Caleb Downs, quarterback Julian Sayin, and wide receiver Isaiah
Bond, have since made their way onto the college football transfer portal. Alabama football prospects have a few
prominent needs to meet.
recruiting class at Washington, he guided the Huskies to a 25-3 record in his two seasons as head coach. With
DeBoer balancing recruiting for Alabama football, the transfer portal, and a new staff, there will be a lot of updates
on Alabama football news in the upcoming months as spring practice draws near in March. Visit Bama247, the
247Sports affiliate that covers Alabama, to read what the seasoned team of insiders has to say about the most recent
coaching and recruiting news pertaining to Alabama.
With over 25 years of experience covering the Crimson Tide, Matt Zenitz, John Talty, and Mike Rodak are among the
insiders at Bama247 who are offering firsthand information on every step in the football coaching search. In addition
to Talty penning The Leadership Secrets of Nick Saban, a Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly bestseller, the
triumvirate has longstanding links within and around the Alabama community.
A list of 2025 candidates that the staff has targeted with minimal time left before the Dead Period is included in the
comprehensive coverage that the Bama247 team has previously provided on Alabama’s recruiting efforts under
Kalen DeBoer. Visit Bama247 right now to view them all. To learn about the most recent developments in Alabama
football recruiting, visit the website’s innovative bulletin board.
star prospect Sharma had committed to Washington before deciding to reopen his recruitment in the latter part of
last month. The following day, he received offers from Alabama and DeBoer. But in the weeks following his
decommitment, he has also received offers from Ole Miss, Texas, and Oregon, so his recruitment appears to be open
once more. The 6-foot-5, 295-pound interior defender is now rated as the 66th best prospect in California for the
2025 class, but based on the offers he has received, it is evident that his ranking is rising. He is anticipated to travel
to Texas following the dead period, having visited Alabama on the first weekend in February. You can read about
Sharma’s visit to Tuscaloosa, which he discussed with Bama247, here.
Anthony Sacca, a four-star linebacker from Philadelphia St. Joseph who is ranked Top247, is another candidate
DeBoer’s staff is considering for 2025. Since DeBoer’s hiring, he has maintained touch with Alabama, and last
month, assistant coach Colin Hitschler paid him a visit. Sacca traveled to Penn State, Notre Dame, and Ohio State in
the spring and winter, among other places, before making his first trip to Alabama earlier this month. There are 25
offers for the four-star linebacker, with Georgia and Florida State among them. He is ranked No. 6 in Pennsylvania
and No. 25 in his class as a linebacker. Check out Bama247 for more details on his plans—he had a lot to say about
his trip to Tuscaloosa. The top prospect in Washington, linebacker Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, is another target for
DeBoer. As a four-star talent right now, Rainey-Sale gets along well with DeBoer and his staff already. Although he
had committed to Washington, he began recruiting after DeBoer left for Alabama, where the 220-pound linebacker
received an offer shortly after.
After recording six tackles for loss and 65 total tackles, including 52 solo, in his junior season, Rainey-Sale received
numerous offers. Colorado, Florida State, Oregon, Miami, Penn State, Washington, and other schools have extended
offers to him. On March 8, he is expected to make an unofficial visit to the Tuscaloosa campus alongside DeBoer. The
Crimson Tide are presently ranked 30th in the 247Sports team recruiting rankings for 2025 and have only
committed to two players. Bama247 provided additional information regarding his choice and his revised recruiting
schedule, which is viewable here.
If Grubb chooses to join the NFL, Alabama’s staff may appear different in the interim. John Talty of 247Sports
confirmed that he is being considered for the position of offensive coordinator for the Seahawks. Despite not
formally announcing his hiring, Grubb has been traveling the country, recruiting for the Crimson Tide. Despite
lacking NFL coaching experience, the 48-year-old managed to create a potent offense in Washington. Grubb had
followed DeBoer to Alabama, but had hoped to be granted the Washington job instead. A well-known recruit from
Georgia has also whittled down his list of potential targets to four, which includes Alabama and a highly skilled
cornerback.
