Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Crimson Tide recruiting staff are aiming to expand their 2025 recruiting class, which currently holds the top spot in the SEC and ranks 2nd in the nation, following Ohio State, as per the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

In his final three school choices, 4-star running back Aklyin Dear has included Alabama. The other schools on his list are Ole Miss and Mississippi State. Dear has informed On3’s Hayes Fawcett that he will announce his commitment on August 20th.

The 6-foot, 200-pound running back from Quitman High School (Quitman, MS) had a jaw-dropping junior season performance, rushing for 27 touchdowns and 2,016 yards according to Dear’s On3 Profile.

Dear is a prototypical power rusher running back, running with force and patience. He has the size that will quickly translate to the next level. According to Aklylin Dear’s on3 scouting report, the senior running back looks a lot like the Jets’ current running back Breece Hall.

The Mississippi native was previously committed to the Ole Miss Rebels before deciding to de-commit on June 28th.

Now, the number two running back in the 2025 cycle according to On3 Player Rankings is looking to choose where he will play for the next four years.

The Alabama Crimson Tide appears to be the favorite to recruit the elite 4-star running back for 2025, with On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine giving the Tide an 87 percent chance of landing the 6-foot, 200-pound rusher.

Aklylin Dear told On3 after his official visit to Tuscaloosa in June, “Alabama has always showed me so much love.”

via d1chop on IG (Akylin Dear on his Official Visit with the Crimson Tide on June 21st)Dear went on to talk about how the Crimson Tide’s coaching staff never stopped recruiting him even when he was committed to the Rebels.

In the same article, he goes on to talk about his relationship with Alabama’s running backs coach Robert Gillespie, stating that “Coach Gillespie has come to my school several times and that says a lot.”

Crimson Tide Photos / UA Athletics (Robert Gillespie, Alabama Crimson Tide RB Coach)

Kalen DeBoer and his staff are putting in a lot of effort to secure the commitment of the number three prospect in the state of Mississippi, according to On3 industry rankings.

The Tide is aiming to outperform two in-state SEC schools, Ole Miss and Mississippi State, in their efforts to recruit this talented local player.

Alabama aims to repeat history and recruit their second top-three player from the state of Mississippi. They have already received a commitment from five-star wide receiver Caleb Cunningham from Choctaw County High School (Ackerman, MS). He is the number one prospect in the state of Mississippi.

Via @calebcunning13 on X (Caleb Cunningham, Wide Reciever, Choctaw County High School, Ackerman, M.S.)Dear will make his decision next Tuesday, and the Crimson Tide’s coaching staff hopes to secure the commitment of the four-star running back for their already prestigious class.

Alabama Football Fall Camp Practice 8.12.2024

Gallery Credit: Wyatt Fulton