Football <\/p>\n
Recruiting football talent is like a high-stakes game of lock and key, especially for elite four- and five-star prospects. Money in the form of NIL deals is often thrown around, with some teams focusing on a family atmosphere and others on flashy promises, or even a mix of both. Just ask Kalen DeBoer<\/strong>, who recently landed a huge five-star recruit. With the latest blue-chip player now committed to the Crimson Tide, the rest of college football is paying very close attention to the remaining elite playmakers.<\/p>\n Kalen DeBoer has brought a relentless, relationship-driven approach to Alabama\u2019s recruiting, and it\u2019s clearly working. DeBoer stated, \u201cWe talk about family, being accountable, and being tough,\u201d<\/em> prioritizing trust over flashy promises. This strategy is already yielding results, with a lineup of five-star commits like quarterback Keelon Russell<\/strong>, offensive lineman Michael Carroll<\/strong>, cornerback Dijon Lee<\/strong>, and former Iowa flip Kadyn Proctor<\/strong> all joining Alabama\u2019s 2025 and 2026 classes. DeBoer believes, \u201cIt\u2019s all about putting the right people around me\u201d<\/em>\u2014and that vision is quickly turning into success.<\/p>\n The good news arrived early this summer, as the commitment season has truly exploded. With July just around the corner, top 2026 recruits are making their decisions at a rapid pace. June, in particular, has been a five-star frenzy, with six top prospects already committing. And Alabama made a significant move by landing Gainesville (Ga.) linebacker Xavier Griffin<\/strong>, their second five-star commitment of the month. Close behind, Texas, Texas A&M, Oregon, and BYU have also secured their own headlining recruits. Clearly, the competition for 2026 dominance is well underway, and elite players are making their choices quickly.<\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n With Xavier Griffin now off the board, the pool of uncommitted 2026 five-stars is shrinking fast. As of June 29, only 12 five-stars remain uncommitted<\/strong>, according to On3\u2019s Hunter Shelton. This means that 20 of the 32 elite prospects in this recruiting cycle have already decided on their future homes.<\/p>\n The summer commitment wave is in full swing, and more announcements are expected. As programs continue to stack pledges and build for the future, the race to secure the last remaining five-star gems is officially heating up. And here are 6 names to keep an eye on in the coming days.<\/p>\n With LB Xavier Griffin pledged to Alabama, just 12 5-star prospects in the 2026 cycle remain uncommitted.<\/p>\n Who are the top names left on the board? Who are the schools vying for their commitments?<\/p>\n Big July decisions are on the way: https:\/\/t.co\/MKGUkEyR0f<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/VEAkw02T8o<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Hunter Shelton (@HunterShelton_) June 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n While the race for the top uncommitted five-stars is heating up, towering OT Immanuel Iheanacho<\/strong> out of Georgetown Prep (Md.) is leading the charge. The 6\u20197\u201d, 380-pound road grader has taken OVs to all four finalists: LSU, Auburn, Oregon, and PSU. He closed June with a trip to Eugene, calling it \u201csaving the best for last.\u201d<\/em> And Oregon now leads in the On3 RPM with 4 predictions locked in for Dan Lanning<\/strong>\u2019s Ducks. As for his timeline? \u201cI have a commitment date set for Aug. 5, but I am thinking about moving that up,\u201d <\/em>said Iheanacho on June 22. \u201cOregon is on top. LSU still competes with them, but I like Oregon a lot.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Another elite lineman nearing the finish line is Lake Ridge (Texas) star Felix Ojo<\/strong>, ranked No. 6 nationally. He hasn\u2019t set a public commitment date yet, but it\u2019s coming soon. \u201cWith Texas and Ohio State, I like those schools a lot,\u201d <\/em>Ojo told On3\u2019s Chad Simmons. \u201cThey have great coaches, great programs and I feel I can be developed at both schools \u2026 I still don\u2019t know where I am going, but I have all the cards and my decision will be made soon.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n University Lab (La.) athlete Lamar Brown<\/strong>, the cycle\u2019s No. 1 athlete, is now set to announce his commitment on July 4, rescheduled from July 10. Brown mentioned that \u201cLSU, Miami, Texas, and Texas A&M is playing their part in my recruitment.\u201d<\/em> Even though his LSU visit was a perfect 10\/10, Texas A&M is strongly competing for his commitment. While the hometown Tigers are still favored, the final decision could be very tight.<\/p>\n Then there\u2019s top linebacker Tyler Atkinson<\/strong> (Grayson, Ga.). He is closing in on a July decision, with Oregon, Clemson, Georgia, and Texas still in play. Although there\u2019s no clear leader, Georgia holds in-state appeal. \u201cAll four schools\u2026 the relationships I built with them, it gave me a lot to think about,\u201d<\/em> said Atkinson. \u201cI\u2019m trying to figure out which one is the best move.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n No. 1 RB Savion Hiter<\/strong> (Louisa County, Va.) has Michigan and Tennessee out front after June visits. \u201cI still think it\u2019s Michigan and Tennessee when all said and done,\u201d<\/em> stated On3\u2019s Steve Wiltfong. While praising Hiter, Pete Nakos noted he\u2019s \u201cexpected to be the highest-paid running back in the cycle.\u201d <\/em>Michigan made a strong push for Hiter, involving him in a family dinner with five-star QB Bryce Underwood and including him in spring practice. Insiders noted these efforts were very personal, aiming to immerse him in the team\u2019s culture and running back history.<\/p>\n Next up is five-star wide receiver Cederian Morgan<\/strong> (Benjamin Russell, Ala.), who is set to announce his decision on July 2, with Alabama currently in the lead. \u201cI think Alabama continues to set the pace,\u201d<\/em> wrote Wiltfong. A recent in-state visit to Alabama, where Morgan and his mother met with Nick Saban, was particularly impactful. Now, while these six stars are on the brink of making their decisions, another six top prospects are also moving down the same path.<\/p>\n The battle for Mississippi\u2019s top-ranked prospect, Bralan Womack<\/strong>, is heating up. The elite safety out of Hartfield Academy has wrapped up official visits to OSU, Florida, Texas A&M, and Auburn\u2014and each staff left a strong impression. These 4 heavyweights are locked in a summer showdown, all vying for the nation\u2019s No. 1 safety. Although Womack had originally circled August for a decision, the timeline is still fluid as the race stays tight.<\/p>\n ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Meanwhile, St. Frances Academy standout Jireh Edwards<\/strong> is just days away from revealing his choice\u2014July 5. The No. 2 safety in the class is down to Alabama, Georgia, and Auburn, with the Tide trending hard. Now, 3 predictions have already been logged for Alabama, while Auburn leans on its DMV pipeline and Georgia keeps pressing.<\/p>\n\n
Football Next up: Six stars who could commit soon<\/h2>\n