In college football, Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama Crimson Tide has been the OG. After all, they have got a rich history, having claimed 18 national championship titles. Thanks to GOAT Nick Saban, who brought home six Natty trophies in Tuscaloosa. Cut to the Minnesota Golden Gophers, they have claimed seven titles. You must be wondering why we are bringing up an Alabama and Minnesota college game. That’s because a 2026 4-star athlete has shortlisted these programs, among which he will finalize his next destination.

He is one of the top-ranked athlete prospects in next year’s recruiting class, so fans are waiting with bated breath to find out about the player’s next stop. However, amidst this, a majority of them hold a firm stance, commanding him not to go for one of them. The warning is mainly against DeBoer’s Bama. That man is already simping on Ty Simpson.

When was the last time the Alabama Crimson Tide had a face-off with the Minnesota Golden Gophers? Back on December 31, 2004. So, more than 10 years have passed since the two programs had any business with each other. And guess what? Back then, the Gophers defeated the Bama gang in a heroic 20-16 feat. Now, after a decade, the two programs find their name mentioned in the same line. Courtesy? Roman Voss, the state of Minnesota’s No. 1 high school football recruit in the class of 2026. Listed as an “athlete” by most recruiting services, he is a phenom from Jackson County Central High School. 

On May 7, Hayes Fawcett came up with an IG post. It read, “NEWS: Four-Star ATH Roman Voss is down to Alabama and Minnesota, he tells me for @on3recruits.” The post ended with opening the portal for the fans to drop in their suggestion in the comments. “Where Should He Go?” The 6’4″, 220-pound kid hails from Jackson, MN, a small town in southern Minnesota with a population of less than 4,000 people. So, he needs that proper exposure to get his first break in college football. Turns out that the universe listened to his prayers. Last May, head coach P.J. Fleck and the Gophers became the first Division I program to extend Voss a scholarship offer. And that was the beginning of him getting all the attention in the wake of his junior season.

Voss has been ranked as a four-star prospect and borderline top-200 player in the country. With Minnesota already at the edge by dishing out the first offer, other programs started to swarm around. He picked up offers from Alabama, Auburn, USC, Miami, and Oklahoma, as well as other major Midwestern programs like Wisconsin and Iowa. The 2024 season was not that great for Voss as his playing action got stunted due to an injury. Meanwhile, his bloodline and dual-sport tag are his big USP. He is a star basketball player at JCC, while his brother Rudy played quarterback at South Dakota State. However, he now faces a big dilemma, and the fans are stirring the pot.

Alabama fans send a clear message to Roman Voss about his next step

Well, not many know about his dual-threat skills. Though mostly utilized on the offensive end at quarterback and tight end, Voss has also spent time as a safety and cornerback. Being a lengthy, athletic prospect, he is dynamic enough to make a difference from almost anywhere on the field. Now, Voss is bound to be a hot target. After all, he lines up at quarterback, linebacker, safety, and tight end. But does this make him, ‘Jack of all trades and master of none?’ 

Amidst this confusion, Alabama knows in which position to land Voss, and they like him at tight end. On that note, one of the fans tries to open his eyes. “If you go to Minnesota, playtime is possible. Go to Alabama and you will just wait 3 to 4 years to play.” Why so? That’s because Tide’s quarterback of the future may already be locked up with current freshman Keelon Russell.  

Turns out that DeBoer is super sure about his quarterback, Simpson. In an interview with On3 Sports, he said, “Ty continues to, I think, trend upward… Ty has been around and has just done a nice job. I think the trending upward is a big piece of it. Ty is an accurate thrower.” So, it’s either of the two- Russell or Simpson. On that note, a Bama fan came up with a disclaimer, “Man no stay yo ah in Minnesota we do not need you at bama.”

Hailing from Minnesota, by not heading towards Tuscaloosa, Voss gets to stay close to his loved ones. While he is saved from the pangs of LDR with his fam and buddies, he can follow the footsteps of someone like Koi Perich. Pro Football Focus (PFF) gave him a 72.6 overall grade. On that note, a fan suggested, “Dealbreaker gotta be proximity to home”

DeBoer is already spoiled with three choices. Simpson, Russell, and Austin Mack. So, it’s obvious that Voss will have to thrive under the shadows in a room already crammed to the brim. Thus, a fan commented, “Alabama doesn’t need any more QBs this year.” And what about the heat of the quarterback seat in Tuscaloosa?

The seat was once shared by notable Bryce Young, Tua Tagovailoa, among others. We don’t have to travel that far, even Jalen Milroe, who flew off to the NFL in 2025, went 21-6 while starting at Alabama for two seasons. Coming from a hardcore Bama fan, this pressure is going to be too much for the Minnesota chap to handle. He commented, “please don’t come to alabama 🙏🏼.” If Roman Voss needs clarity, the comment section’s already done the homework.