Kalen DeBoer is facing a major headache in the form of a flip-flopping recruit.

DeBoer is stepping in as the Crimson Tide head coach to replace the retired GOAT, Nick Saban. While it sounds impressive, it’s been tough because young recruits who committed to playing under Saban are backing out since he retired earlier this year. This weekend, 4-star defensive lineman Antonio Coleman joined the de-commitment spree. 

Antonio Coleman, a highly rated four-star defensive lineman, has been playing a tug-of-war between Alabama and Auburn. It all started when Coleman committed to Alabama in September last year when Nick Saban was still the coach. Then he switched to Auburn, and when Saban retired and DeBoer took over, Coleman flipped back to Alabama. But now, he’s gone back to Auburn again. It’s like a never-ending rollercoaster!

Despite the uncertainty, Coleman is a serious talent. He’s one of the top defensive linemen in the country for the 2025 class, ranking at #20. With stats like 62 tackles, 4 sacks, and 22.5 tackles for loss in his junior year, it’s clear that DeBoer has missed a big fish. It looks like the “iron bowl” rivalry between Alabama and Auburn is heating up! With Coleman’s flip to Auburn, the Tigers have scored a major win over the Crimson Tide. This is sure a colossal blow for Coach DeBoer, who’s trying to rebuild Alabama’s program after Nick Saban’s retirement. It looks like Auburn is gaining the upper hand in this intense recruiting battle, landing the elite 4-star talent.

Meanwhile, DeBoer is only left with the 3-star defensive lineman committed for next year, London Simmons. Plus, his losing streak continues with the back-and-forth loss of elite prospects.

Kalen DeBoer’s recruiting troubles mount

Kalen DeBoer is having a tough time keeping his top recruits at Alabama. While he’s known for his offensive skills and has the support of star quarterback Jalen Milroe, it’s not translating into big wins on the recruiting field. It’s not just Auburn giving them trouble; Florida is too. Coach DeBoer lost 3-star linebacker Myles Johnson to Florida, and now Billy Napier’s team is after another linebacker — this time 4-star linebacker Ty Jackson. Now, things are looking even worse on the offensive side. Their 4-star running back Zymear Smith decommitted from Alabama and joined Maryland. It’s sure been a rough few months for DeBoer.

Sports analyst Matt Moscona hasn’t been shy about criticizing Alabama’s recruiting struggles. He said, “It’s gone, it’s over…I’ve been trying to tell you for months and months and months.” He even mentioned that Alabama lost top recruits Julian Sayin and Caleb Downs to Ohio State and brutally added, “I’m gonna remind you that your flipping dynasty is over.”

Will DeBoer prove that Saban’s dynasty can continue despite these back-and-forth de-commitments?

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