re: Class of 2026 Football Recruiting

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Coaches from Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State attended Caleb Downs’ game Friday night. He noticed and appreciated all who attended as he sticks with his Crimson Tide commitment but is being majorly pursued by some heavy hitters.

The new five-star safety from Hoschton (Ga.) Mill Creek committed to Alabama in July and has stuck by that pledge.

“There is always going to be interest there in every school,” Downs said. “At the end of the day, I’m committed to Alabama and that’s all that needs to be said right now.

“Just everything that’s been there. God has blessed me and God told me to go there. That’s where I feel I’m safe. Coach [Charles] Kelly, coach [Nick] Saban, they’re going to put me in the best position.”

Fellow Alabama commit Justice Haynes, the top-rated running back in the 2023 class, stopped by Mill Creek to support Downs and the five-star safety noticed. For some time, Haynes chatted with Georgia running backs coach Dell McGee - always recruiting - but the No. 1 back remains committed to the Crimson Tide as well.

“I knew [Haynes] was here,” Downs said. “We talked about it Wednesday. That’s my brother. That’s my partner. I love that guy and I appreciate him coming out.”

Intrigue picked up even more recently when Downs showed up at Ohio State’s game against Michigan. Despite the Buckeyes’ loss, the five-star said he took away something valuable from his time in Columbus.

“Just how big football is there,” Downs said.

“That game is a different type of game. It’s not comparable to anything else, the way they take it, how serious they take it and they have great football up there and a great school.”

The feeling now in Downs’ recruitment is that if he decides to flip, Ohio State would have the best shot at landing him but he remains locked in with the Crimson Tide heading toward the early signing period.

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RUNNING BACK

We still don’t have a five-star running back in this class. I’m not crazy about that because there is a lot of high-end talent up top. However, I do understand the logic from an NFL Draft consideration and that does play a role in our rankings process.

Louisville commit Rueben Owens II would get the first look because of his dual abilities of running and catching the ball and he’s so dynamic in any offense when he has the ball in his hands.

But Alabama commit Justice Haynes is not far behind him. Texas commit Cedric Baxter deserved a move up and he got one. Georgia pledge Roderick Robinson had such a great senior season, plus he fits the mold of the great ones in Athens, that he could not be ignored.

Alabama pledge Richard Young dropped a few spots and I have a sneaky suspicion he’s going to prove us wrong at the all-star events and will move right back toward the top. Oregon commit Dante Dowdell might also be a little low at No. 7 and I like the move of Jamarion Wilcox to ninth overall.

At all-purpose, Auburn commit Jeremiah Cobb has been more behind the scenes but I love his game.

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LINEBACKER

The only five-star linebacker remains Denton (Texas) Ryan’s Anthony Hill, who had been committed to Texas A&M but it now looks like he’ll end up at Texas. He’s a tackling machine and excellent in the box and in space, and has put up big numbers throughout his career.

But there will be others under consideration including USC commit Tackett Curtis, a physical specimen who loads up on the stats as well. At outside linebacker, Notre Dame commit Drayk Bowen took over the No. 1 spot because of his outstanding season and upside.

The one to watch is Ole Miss pledge Suntarine Perkins, who is also phenomenal on the offensive side of the ball and is a pure playmaker. It’s why Alabama is trying to flip him so badly.

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61. DT Jordan Hall

Previously ranked: Outside the Rivals250

Hall is a dominant defensive tackle who has a skill set college coaches covet. He is very quick at the snap and can get into the backfield before offensive linemen know it. Hall has impressive upper body strength and has no problem moving offensive linemen out of his way en route to the backfield. His hand techniques are effective but his overall pass rushing moves aren’t overly developed. Once Hall puts his athletic traits together with refine techniques, he could be a major force at the next level.

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7. S Caleb Downs

The No. 1 safety in the class picked Alabama over Georgia but the Bulldogs are not giving up with the Hoschton (Ga.) Mill Creek standout and neither is Ohio State. Downs recently visited Columbus on a semi-secret trip and the word now is that if Downs does decide to flip it would be to Ohio State and not Georgia. But he’s also close with Alabama commit Justice Haynes so that could be a consideration.

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14. OT Kadyn Proctor

Proctor committed to Iowa in June over Alabama as the massive five-star offensive lineman decided to stay home but his recruitment is still not over for the Pleasant Hill (Iowa) Southeast Polk standout. His former teammate, Xavier Nwankpa, is already playing for the Hawkeyes but Oregon is pushing hard and Proctor recently visited and the Crimson Tide is trying to get him back down to Tuscaloosa on another visit before signing day.

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21. DE Keon Keeley

Alabama is considered the front-runner to land Keeley, who was committed to Notre Dame earlier in his recruitment but backed off that pledge in recent months. It felt like a flip to the Crimson Tide was possible but the Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep prospect slowed his recruitment down and then Ohio State jumped in. Assistant coach Larry Johnson and an Alabama coach recently visited with Keeley and so the Buckeyes are still battling in this one but the Crimson Tide are the team to beat.

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