| RECRUIT ⭐️Alabama '24-'25 Recruiting Class ⭐️: 4 ⭐ Zyan Gibson commits to Bama.

[Secondand26]

Agree this is the area that CKD is going to have to find his way and produce in my view. West coast kids are fine but you need some of these southern studs all things equal. Plus if we are not getting them then they are going to our competition. Another one of those examples the GOAT is no longer in T-Town. Give it a few recruiting cycles to see if it is going to be a longer term problem or not.

And also keep in mind a great recruiting year is good for 6 months or less. Most of those from Georgia signing will be with their current team long enough for 2 changes of underwear & then they will be off to their next 4-7 schools through the portal. This shit is now a complete joke & almost a waste of time.

 

[mando]

And also keep in mind a great recruiting year is good for 6 months or less. Most of those from Georgia signing will be with their current team long enough for 2 changes of underwear & then they will be off to their next 4-7 schools through the portal. This shit is now a complete joke & almost a waste of time.

Yeah I am still getting used to the craziness of portal and NIL. At this point it is all about roster management but it is just as legit to get them through the portal as signing day of high schoolers. Still the recruiting cycle shows how your program is viewed so it is not a data point to just be dismissed.

 

[Secondand26]

Yeah I am still getting used to the craziness of portal and NIL. At this point it is all about roster management but it is just as legit to get them through the portal as signing day of high schoolers. Still the recruiting cycle shows how your program is viewed so it is not a data point to just be dismissed.

I agree totally. I’m just getting disillusioned with the players & their “support staff” I guess. I must be getting old & grouchy!

 

[mando]

I agree totally. I’m just getting disillusioned with the players & their “support staff” I guess. I must be getting old & grouchy!

Come join us in that club. It is not bad .

 

[Crimson&WhiteGecko]

I agree totally. I’m just getting disillusioned with the players & their “support staff” I guess. I must be getting old & grouchy!

So much of the prestige of being in college has really, really lost it's shine over the last 20 years. And frankly, colleges have themselves to blame for it. I really have zero sympathy for them.

 

[Bammerboy321]

Agree this is the area that CKD is going to have to find his way and produce in my view. West coast kids are fine but you need some of these southern studs all things equal. Plus if we are not getting them then they are going to our competition. Another one of those examples the GOAT is no longer in T-Town. Give it a few recruiting cycles to see if it is going to be a longer term problem or not.

To me, I care less where a player is from as long as the coach believes he is ultimately the best player for that position and he can 100% develop them into the best player for that role. Pete Carroll was able to lock down California (and the West Coast) and produced elite teams from 2002 to 2008. He had a successful system and style of coaching that dominated the CFB landscape from that time period. Ultimately we shouldn't care if DeBoer where he recruits. What matters most is how he is able to develop talent and how he fills his staff with good *coaches. Because those have brought championships to programs.

*I made an asterisk for assistant coaches because that just as much creates a championship environment as the players. The 2015 Alabama team is elite, because it had seven different assistants who became head coaches. One of the most underrated aspects of Saban's coaching was his eye for good assistants. Kirby has built his own tree at Georgia, as has Dabo at Clemson (albeit, Morris was a disaster). DeBoer needs to showcase this ability, because it's just as important as recruiting.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

In addition to adding talent, it would be great if Kalen could add some talent with IQ. Getting really good players from outside the South isn't a bad thing.

 

[BamaFan334]

To me, I care less where a player is from as long as the coach believes he is ultimately the best player for that position and he can 100% develop them into the best player for that role. Pete Carroll was able to lock down California (and the West Coast) and produced elite teams from 2002 to 2008. He had a successful system and style of coaching that dominated the CFB landscape from that time period. Ultimately we shouldn't care if DeBoer where he recruits. What matters most is how he is able to develop talent and how he fills his staff with good *coaches. Because those have brought championships to programs.

*I made an asterisk for assistant coaches because that just as much creates a championship environment as the players. The 2015 Alabama team is elite, because it had seven different assistants who became head coaches. One of the most underrated aspects of Saban's coaching was his eye for good assistants. Kirby has built his own tree at Georgia, as has Dabo at Clemson (albeit, Morris was a disaster). DeBoer needs to showcase this ability, because it's just as important as recruiting.

He was a California school though. Be different if he locked down California and was in Texas. Not all talent, state football, or players are equal. How many five stars have we seen from an obscure map dot fade away in college? Seen it from prominent programs too of course, but football in Idaho is different from Florida. Specific states and high schools have track records of talent, and you better hit those, because the odds of a swing and a miss are much lower.

 

[rick4bama]

Zyan Gibson is staying home, at Alabama that is.

The 2026 four-star prospect out of Gadsden City (AL) High School committed to the Crimson Tide on December 24 while LIVE on Twitter/X. He picked the home state program over a slew of other offers including fellow in-state rival Auburn as well as Tennessee and Miami, which were his finalists.

 

[RTB X Bot]

 

[Scrape&Search1032]

Great pickup..... hopeful this calms some folks down a little bit about in-state recruiting.

 

[24and7]

View attachment 29832

I was hoping he was the 25 class…We have a whole year to “hope” for him to sign… LET THE GAMES BEGIN…

 

[BamaFan334]

Great pickup..... hopeful this calms some folks down a little bit about in-state recruiting.

Long time to hold a "commitment" in this climate.

 

[rick4bama]

Have any of you hear if he coming to Bama? I would show a video but it a site no one here like very much! If you want to watch it just put Woods name in the search bar.

 

[Justneedme81]

Sighs ... I asked @Brandon Van de Graaff about him before all of this silly rumor spread... That was what? Two weeks ago. I think Brandon or Terry mentioned him yesterday.
If he's coming, cool. If he's not coming cool. Not worried either way.

 

[rick4bama]

@Justneedme81 I with you on that too, Come or not. If he not wearing Crimson & White he isn't for Bama!

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

If he does play for Bama, I think he will be the 1st player from Thompson to ever play a meaningful down at Bama.

 

[94 Grad]

Great pickup..... hopeful this calms some folks down a little bit about in-state recruiting.

Instate recruiting is like DEI... it's only good if it truly is a fit and the best person for the job. I understand the desire to win the state recruiting battle, but not at the loss of quality players from other areas that may be a better fit.

 

[TerryP]

Great pickup..... hopeful this calms some folks down a little bit about in-state recruiting.

I'd rather see them continue.

If he does play for Bama, I think he will be the 1st player from Thompson to ever play a meaningful down at Bama.

Alexander will likely hold that "title."

 

[Secondand26]

I'd rather see them continue.

Alexander will likely hold that "title."

What’s the word on Alexander? I remember when he signed but haven’t heard much on field from him (Keely also)