Kalen DeBoer has already secured five committed players in Alabama’s 2027 class. However, DeBoer’s staff are not slowing down, as his assistants, such as outside linebackers coach Christian Robinson, are making recruiting visits in the last few weeks.
Kalen DeBoer’s OLB Coach Christian Robinson Makes Recruiting Visit to See Top EDGE Target
Robinson was in Tennessee on Tuesday to check in with top target and four-star EDGE Antwan Jackson. DeBoer’s staff has already hosted Jackson on campus three separate times throughout the past few months.
Jackson has long considered Alabama his leading school and already has official visit dates set for May 29-31. He visited Tuscaloosa for A-Day and came away impressed.
“It was great out there yesterday,” Jackson told Touchdown Alabama. “The defense didn’t look too bad. They have some really good young guys.”
Jackson is the No. 30 EDGE in the 2027 class and the No. 14 recruit in Tennessee, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. He had a strong junior season with 5.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 7 quarterback pressures, 3 forced fumbles, and an interception, per his X profile.
Rivals currently projects Alabama as the clear frontrunner in his recruitment, giving the Crimson Tide an 84.3% chance to land his commitment. Robinson’s latest in-person visit is expected to help Alabama maintain its strong position, but Jackson remains heavily pursued by programs such as Ole Miss, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee.
On the same day, Alabama also added momentum in the EDGE recruiting battle by landing a commitment from three-star Stevan Thornton III for its 2027 class. Thornton chose the Crimson Tide over Georgia, Tulane, South Florida, Tennessee, Ole Miss, and other programs. His commitment followed an unofficial visit to Alabama in April, after receiving a scholarship offer from DeBoer’s staff in March.
Thornton’s addition is seen as a huge boost to the Alabama defense, which finished last season with an 84.9 score in the PFSN College Football Defense Impact Metric.
Rivals analyst Greg Biggins described Thornton as a long, athletic pass rusher.
“Long, athletic edge who can get after the quarterback. Looks all of 6-foot-5 but very lean and will need some time to add good weight to his frame. Can still play a physical game; runs through would-be blockers and attacks the line of scrimmage. First-step quickness and get-off are his calling card, and he shows excellent closing speed…The ceiling is high and he has all the raw traits to be an exceptional player at the college level.”
Thornton is the No. 779 overall prospect and No. 65 EDGE in the 2027 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. He earned Class 3A First Team All-State honors after posting 91 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and 8 sacks last season.
With Thornton already in the fold and another EDGE commit in three-star AJ Pauley, DeBoer now has two pass rushers in the 2027 class. The focus now shifts to whether Alabama can hold its momentum with Jackson, who remains one of their top defensive targets.
