Alabama football sticking to guns on NIL recruiting front: “They pulled out of the race”

Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen Deboer watches in the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Alabama football is sticking to its guns on the recruiting front when it comes to NIL agreements.

A top prospect who was considering the Crimson recently told Touchdown Alabama why the Tide was no longer in the running for his pledge, and he said it was a decision made by Alabama.

“They said they couldn’t compete with the numbers my other schools are offering, so they just pulled out of the race,” the prospect said.

Alabama football’s General Manager Courtney Morgan has been vocal about the Tide’s approach to paying players in the NIL era. Morgan went on record with ESPN and said the Tide pulled out of a race with a recruit in the past and canceled his official visit because they could not come to an agreement.

“If we can’t come to an agreement, you just don’t bring them for an OV — we’ll cancel the kid’s visit,” Courtney Morgan said. “There was a big-time player last year, top of his position, we just told him don’t come because we couldn’t meet on the terms he wanted.”

Alabama continues to recruit at a high level under Kalen DeBoer and Morgan. However, one thing remains clear. The Tide has no problem with bowing out gracefully in the push for a top prospect if they feel an offer is too high for a prospect.