Auburn and Alabama are going to be playing catch-up for the top 2025 in-state prospect as Ohio State just came into the Yellowhammer State and snagged the top recruit. That’s unusual based on recent history.
According to Rivals recruiting rankings, here’s where the top in-state player went during the past four cycles.
In 2021, Alabama signed cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry from Pinson Valley just outside of Birmingham. In 2022, another Birmingham-area recruit was #1 and went with the Crimson Tide with Jeremiah Alexander playing for Thompson High School. The 2023 recruiting cycle would see the lone recent exception, as Clemson came in and stole defensive tackle Peter Woods from Thompson. In 2024, Saraland’s Ryan Williams went with the Crimson Tide. That leads us to today.
Despite being early in the 2025 cycle, it’s Ohio State landing an elite cornerback that the Tigers and Tide would love to sign. Rivals No. 1 recruit from the state of Alabama, and #10 nationally, would be Birmingham (Ala.) Parker’s Na’eem Offord .