Spring scrimmage luring heavy dose of elite recruits to Alabama on Thursday
The University of Alabama is hosting another batch of top recruits for its spring scrimmage today. The confirmed list of recruits would light up on college football message board during the summer official visit season or in the fall on a Saturday afternoon. The new Alabama coaching staff has delivered numerous high-end targets since the start of spring practice. It continues to impress with the group visiting the Capstone on Thursday.
The biggest name is none other than Julian ‘JuJu’ Lewis, five-star quarterback from Carrollton High School in Ga. Lewis returns to Tuscaloosa for the second time this month. He also attended practice on March 8. The USC commitment visited Auburn on Tuesday, and he will return to Los Angeles this weekend. Alabama remains a major contender in his recruitment. BOL will watch to see if an official visit is scheduled during this trip. For more on Lewis-CLICK HERE.
His teammate, Ryan Mosley, is also scheduled to visit. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound receiver had 471 yards and seven touchdowns during his sophomore season. The ’26 recruit has received a few recent offers including Auburn and Georgia. BOL will follow to see if an offer is extended to by Alabama on Thursday.
Alabama will also host one of the nation’s best defensive linemen. Nathaniel Marshall, No. 3 DL from Fenwick HS in Oak Park, Ill., arrived in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday evening. He will tour Alabama’s campus, meet with the staff and attend practice, meetings, etc., before a Friday morning departure. Marshall included Alabama in his Top 12 earlier this week. He has not visited Alabama since last summer. Miami and Illinois have secured June official visit dates. The Tide will look to do the same.
Alabama will also host Derick Smith, Top 100 athlete from Southside High School in Selma. Smith announced his commitment to Alabama on March 11. The No. 2 player in the state was a significant, early recruiting win for the Tide. Smith is still considering visits, but also considers himself a solid commitment. BOL interview with Smith from Wednesday- HERE
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More offensive targets in town
Top 100 WR Derek Meadows (Photo by Chad Simmons/On3)
Andrew Olesh, Top 100 tight end from Southern Lehigh HS in Center Valley, Pa., will take his first-ever visit to Alabama on Thursday. This is only a one-day visit before traveling to Auburn on Friday, and Ole Miss this weekend. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound athlete posted a video message from Alabama tight ends coach Bryan Ellis last week. He has visited Penn State several times, and he is just starting to visit other schools. Olesh recently visited Michigan and Ohio State. He is also scheduled to see FSU and Florida next week.
There wasn’t much luck recruiting in Vegas during the Nick Saban era. Coach Kalen DeBoer hopes to change that. Derek Meadows, Top 100 wide receiver from Bishop Gorman High School, one of the top football programs in the country. The 6-foot-5, 185-pound athlete is the No. 1 player in Nevada per On3. Alabama hopes it can lock-in a summer official. He has June trips set for Notre Dame and South Carolina. Other schools in contention include Georgia, LSU, Michigan and Tennessee.
James Simon, four-star running back from Calvary Baptist Academy in Shreveport, La., arrived in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday afternoon. He’ll depart on Friday morning. Simon ranks the No. 8 RB per On3 after rushing for 1,600 yards and 21 touchdowns during his junior season. The Pelican State product has visited LSU twice this month. He also has upcoming visits to Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Texas and Louisiana Tech.
Alabama is working on several top offensive line targets. Michael Carroll, No. 3 interior OL visited earlier this week. The Tide will host another in recently offered Malachi Goodman, from Paramus Catholic in Paramus, N.J. The 6-foot-5.5, 315-pounder has several top suitors including Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, South Carolina. He was offered by OL coach Chris Kapilovic on March 6. This is his first visit to Alabama, and one the UA staff has high interest based on junior film- HERE
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Elite underclassmen visiting Alabama
2026 wide receiver Devin Carter. (Photo courtesy of Carter)
Hezekiah Harris, ’26 No. 1 EDGE from Jemison HS in Huntsville, Ala.
Devin Carter, ’26 No. 3 WR from Cedar Grove HS in Augusta, Ga.
Dorian Barney, ’26 No. 3 CB from Peachtree Ridge HS in McDonough, Ga.
Zech Fort, ‘26 No. 2 safety from IMG Academy (originally from Long Beach, Calif.)
Kaiden Hall ’26 No. 4 safety from Milton HS in Fla.
JaMichael Garrett, ’26 No. 12 LB from Gulf Shores HS in Ala.
Quick thoughts: The quality of talent has been exceptional for spring visits in T-Town. The rising juniors who have visited has been just as impressive as the ’25 class. Harris is ranked the No. 2 in-state recruit. Carter is a former FSU commitment/legacy who de-committed from the ‘Noles in January. His last visit to Alabama was in the fall. Barney is returning for his second visit this month (3/8)-Interview from previous visit.
Fort received an offer from the previous staff more than a year ago. He visited last spring and in the fall. Hall is ranked the No. 27 overall player in the recently updated ’26 On300. Hall received an offer from FSU after a visit to Tallahassee on 3/21. Is Alabama next? Garrett ranks the No. 6 player in the state. Alabama has yet to offer. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder has several offers including Auburn, Louisville, LSU, Ole Miss and Tennessee.
It’s a great day to follow the action on the RoundTable!
Post-visit reports to follow in the coming days.
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