Those who were worried about Kalen DeBoer’s ability to successfully recruit in the SEC have had a tough offseason so far. Since DeBoer has taken over in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide’s 2025 recruiting class has risen to No. 1 in the SEC and No. 3 in the country overall.
It’s the trenches that the new Alabama head coach bolstered this week, landing two huge offensive line commitments.
4-star Michael Carroll, a 6-foot-6, 315-pound interior lineman, committed to the Crimson Tide after an official visit this past weekend. The Doylestown, Pennsylvania native chose Alabama over Penn State and others.
Alabama newest 4-Star OL commit, Michael Carroll pulls with bad intentions at 6-foot-6 and more than 300 Pounds.@Jdsmith31Smith breaks down the newest Tide commit.
Full Video: https://t.co/TBMT4Yo5qH pic.twitter.com/12XODl1Yd3
— Touchdown Alabama Recruiting (@TDARecruiting) June 10, 2024
On Wednesday, DeBoer and his staff landed a second offensive line commit, this time in-state prospect Mal Waldrep. The 3-star lineman out of Central-Phenix City chose Alabama over Clemson, Florida, and Tennessee. He stands at 6’5″ and weighs 325 pounds.
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“A nimble mover that shows the ability to work up to the second level and play in space, Waldrep’s size and skillset indicate the potential flexibility to transition inside, offering valuable contributions as a guard or even potentially at the center position,” says Cooper Petagna of 247.
Alabama football new 6-foot-5 OL commit Mal Waldrep @WaldrepMal knows how make himself wide as one of the better pass-blocking lineman in the 2025 class.@Jdsmith31Smith takes a look at the in-state prospect.
Full Video: https://t.co/ymdevdQWM1 pic.twitter.com/34hVzAlXeO
— Touchdown Alabama Recruiting (@TDARecruiting) June 11, 2024
The Alabama/Central-Phenix City connection has been strong in recent years. Two of Waldrep’s former high school teammates, Red Morgan and Isaia Faga, are entering their second seasons in Tuscaloosa.
Waldrep is a Crimson Tide legacy. His father, also named Mal, played under Mike DuBose and Dennis Franchione from 1998-2002.
As the DeBoer era continues to roll on, the commitments of Carroll and Waldrep spell two more huge recruiting wins for the Tide.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.
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