Breakdown of Alabama football’s 2027 recruiting as focus shifts to the 2026 season

Alabama football’s 2027 recruiting class is not glamorous to the eye if one prefers high rankings and ratings. However, the class is still a solid one that shows the Alabama staff is banking on their own evaluations and ability to develop.

With this class mostly in the books, based on what the Tide’s staff has been pushing will be a small class; here is a breakdown and evaluation of each of the Tide’s 2027 commits.

Elijah Haven – Quarterback

Rating – 5-Star

Evaluation – Haven is a big quarterback at every bit of 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds. He has flashed the ability to make every throw look effortless. While adjusting to a major jump in competition from Dunham to Alabama will be quite the adjustment for Haven, it will likely not be Haven-time in Tuscaloosa any time soon with the way Alabama’s quarterback room is expected to be constructed in the future. The five-star led Dunham High School to a state championship in 2025, the school’s first state title since 2004. He threw for 3,931 yards and 62 touchdowns as a junior. He also added 794 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.

Osani Gayles – Wide Receiver

Rating – 4-Star

Evaluation – At 5-foot-11 and 181 pounds, Gayles is an explosive and elusive wide receiver who is built like a future slot option. He quickly picks up ground when he has the football in his hands with elite acceleration. The Alabama commit pairs this skill set with the ability to be a deceptive route runner. Gayles finished the 2025 season with 492 receiving yards and six touchdowns, and he averaged 24.6 yards per catch. The Alabama commit has the potential to come in and make an immediate impact in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama football’s newest 4-Star WR commit Osani Gayles is a dangerous and explosive playmaker.

His acceleration is eye opening and he can effectively stalk block & willing to do the dirty work.

Full Breakdown: https://t.co/mIACHkSCQb pic.twitter.com/U1zUfIEcDz

— Justin Smith (@Jdsmith31Smith) June 27, 2026

Trent Seaborn

Rating – 4-Star

Evaluation – Seaborn is one of the most accomplished passers in Alabama high school football history. He has led Thompson High School to several state championships and has passed for more than 10,000 yards. Seaborn is considered to be more of a pro-style quarterback, who can make all of the throws. One of his best traits is likely his experience at producing and making plays when the stakes are the highest.

Trent Seaborn rips it to Trey Knight to put Thompson up 13-0 over Opelika. pic.twitter.com/o19bGR4PRD

— Touchdown Alabama Recruiting (@TDARecruiting) December 4, 2025

Nigel Newkirk

Rating – 4-Star

Evaluation – At 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, Newkirk is an explosive running back, and he impacts the game in many ways for Gainesville. He is a weapon while carrying the football out of the backfield and in the passing game. The new Alabama pledge has also shown he can catch the football out of the backfield.

Tai Phillips

Rating – 3-Star

Evaluation – At 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, Phillips is a tenacious and explosive runner of the football who displays patience and vision while looking for space as he blocks develop. He reports a 4.26 40-yard dash time, and one can see flashes of his explosive speed when he presses the gas and explodes onto the open field after getting a carry.

 

Michael Nnabuife

Rating – 3-Star

Evaluation – At 6-foot-5 and 242 pounds, the Alabama target takes pride in being a nasty and effective blocker, as well as a receiving threat. His experience as a blocker should make his transition in Tuscaloosa a smooth one. The Alabama commit’s athleticism combined with his physicality allows him to be a tough cover for smaller defenders as a pass catcher.

Stafford Willis

Rating – 3-Star

Evaluation – At 6-foot-5 and 290 pounds, Willis is a physical offensive lineman who displays the ability to properly execute a variety of blocking assignments. One can see him executing effective combo blocks and continuing to find work at the second level of defenses throughout his film. Stafford also flashes some agility along with some impressive strength. He is looking to improve as a pass blocker a lot during his final season of high school football.

Darrius White

Rating – 3-Star

Evaluation – The 6-foot-3 defensive back is expected to add more length to the Tide’s defensive back room. The length he possesses aids him in coverage and allows him to have a wide coverage radius. While his length immediately jumps out, the way White moves in coverage at his height is really impressive. Not many move with better hip fluidity at his size.

Avrian Pauley

Rating – 3-Star

Evaluation – At 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, Pauley has the potential to play multiple positions along the defensive front at the next level with his versatility. His length allows him to play with great leverage at the point of attack and his build should allow him to have position versatility at the next level.

Tyler Younger

Rating – 3-Star

Evaluation – At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Younger is an edge defender who shows strength at the point of attack and flashes an ability to make tackles in space. His backside pursuit also jumps out on film, along with his ability to not stay blocked, with his high motor. He will have an opportunity to line up at the bandit position or at Wolf linebacker if he were to commit to the Tide.

Jeremiah Beverly

Rating – 3-Star

Evaluation – The 6-foot-2, 235-pounder flashes signs of being an explosive and versatile defender up front. He plays with active hands and is strong at the point of attack. The Crimson Tide will likely recruit him to play both the bandit and wolf position within Kane Wommack’s defensive scheme.

Oakley Keegan

Rating – 3-Star

Evaluation – The 6-foot-7 tight end weighs 240 pounds, and he reports a 4.65 40-yard dash. He missed his entire junior season with an injury, so this year should allow evaluators to get a better look at Keegan. He has flashed an ability to be a big receiving target.

Luke Cody

Rating – 3-Star

Evaluation – Cody nailed multiple field goals from more than 40 yards out last season, including a 54-yard field goal.