After Nick Saban's retirement, many football fans across the nation believed that Alabama would take a huge step back in recruiting. Even after the hiring of Washington’s Kalen DeBoer, fresh off a loss in the title game of the College Football Playoffs, fans worried that the lack of experience in the South would hurt Alabama’s recruiting.

In his three seasons at Washington, DeBoer was unable to put together a top-25 class, something that would have an Alabama coach looking for another job. While on paper it would concern most, recruiting at Washington is significantly harder than at a traditional powerhouse like Alabama.

DeBoer took over for Saban in the middle of the 2024 recruiting season and held together a top three recruiting class. Many critics refused to give him credit and instead credited Saban for the 2024 class. Now, some are questioning if he can keep the recruiting standard that made Saban so successful.

All eyes are on DeBoer for the 2025 recruiting class, as he will be without Saban's help. So far, he has responded by shocking many with his success on the recruiting trail.

On3’s Andy Staples appeared on “The Next Round” on Tuesday morning, declaring that Alabama and DeBoer are making a splash in recruiting this offseason and could possibly even finish with the No. 1 class.

“I do think they are going to be a force to be reckoned with on the recruiting trail,” Staples said.

Going into the dead period in recruiting, Alabama finished June carrying tons of momentum by landing a group of 4-star recruits, including the flipping of quarterback Keelon Russell from SMU. Alabama is also trending in the right direction on a trio of 5-star prospects.

According to On3, the Crimson Tide currently have 18 commitments, nine of which are top 150 recruits, and hold on to the No. 3 recruiting class heading into the dead period.

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