SAD DEPARTURE: Alabama football agree to deal with CB, potentially bringing an end to the Jaylen Mbakwe era.
On Wednesday, the Alabama Crimson Tide football team welcomed three recruits in honor of a low-key but noteworthy National Signing Day.
Three-star linebacker Quinton “QB” Reese, four-star edge rusher Noah Carter, and five-star wide receiver Ryan Williams all signed autographs for the new Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer.
Even after reclassifying into the Class of 2024, Williams is still regarded as the second-best player in Alabama and the fourth-best player overall, making him by far the most important member of the bunch. As a mere junior, the 6-foot receiver led the Saraland Spartans to the Class 6A state title game and won Alabama’s Mr. Football honor for the second time.
After DeBoer left, Carter—who had initially signed with Washington—asked to have his letter of intent released. At 6 feet 3 inches and 218 pounds, the player is ranked as the second best in Arizona and the ninth best in the class.
Since September 2023, Reese had been devoted to the Crimson Tide and continued to be so even after the coaching transition. The 6-foot, 205-pound linebacker from Birmingham’s Ramsay High School is ranked among Alabama’s top-50 players.
All three of the major recruiting agencies (On3Sports, 247Sports, Rivals) rank the Crimson Tide as the second best recruiting class, and the trio helps to cement that ranking. Alabama trails the Georgia Bulldogs in every service by a very little margin.
On both sides of the ball, the Crimson Tide class has exceptional outside talent. Along with athletic tight end Caleb Odom, Alabama has outstanding receivers in Williams, Aeryn Hampton, Amari Jefferson, and Rico Scott.
The Crimson Tide’s defensive backs, Jaylen Mbakwe, Zabien Brown, and Zavier Mincey, are three 5-star recruits. The Tide have excellent depth at defensive back with the addition of defensive backs Peyton Woodyard, Red Morgan, and Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. Not to mention the addition of former Southern California 5-star CB Domani Jackson as a transfer.
