Latest news with #JavariBarnett
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alabama's Kalen DeBoer flips 4-star RB from Illinois
The post Alabama's Kalen DeBoer flips 4-star RB from Illinois appeared first on ClutchPoints. Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer is under the microscope following an overall disappointing first season in Tuscaloosa. Despite outlasting Georgia in a wild game on Saban Field at the end of September, the Crimson Tide suffered a blowout loss at Oklahoma and missed out on the 12-team College Football Playoff. The two-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year aims to get the program back in prestigious standing, and his best route to doing so is via the recruiting trail. Advertisement DeBoer is on the attack, exemplifying the proactive style that helped him turn Washington into a national champion runner-up. He and Alabama just officially flipped 2026 recruit Javari Barnett, per On3's Hayes Fawcett. The 6-foot, 215-pound running back committed to Illinois in April. 'Not just doing it but imma do it big,' Barnett told Fawcett regarding his big decision. The Tampa Bay, Florida native will be staying close to home and plans to solidify himself as a valuable component of Bama's offense. Barnett is a three-star recruit on 247 Sports' rankings and had recently held the same standing on On3, but he is now a four-star prospect as of this report. Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema recently called out SEC teams for the number of conference games they play, and this latest defection may only stoke his fury toward the league. DeBoer is not going to apologize, though. He swooped in and grabbed four-star quarterback Jett Thomalla from Iowa State last week and is now raiding Illinois' cupboard. The Crimson Tide's path to success historically includes an impactful RB room, which Javari Barnett hopes to contribute to starting next year. Kalen DeBoer will get some leeway for a transitional 2024 season, but he is expected to formulate a clear vision in 2025 and beyond. It seems to be taking shape as we speak. Of course, the only thing that truly matters is how everything fits on the field. The summer grind is officially underway. Related: Miami Hurricanes land 4-star wide receiver after Georgia flip Related: Florida State beats Alabama, Auburn for homegrown 4-star TE
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alabama Flips 4-Star RB From Big Ten Program
Alabama Flips 4-Star RB From Big Ten Program originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Entering June, the Alabama Crimson Tide had just five hard commits for the 2026 class, a stark contrast from their elite recruiting efforts in years prior. Advertisement On Monday, Alabama landed their fourth verbal commit in the last three weeks in the form of four-star running back Javari Barnett. An Illinois Fighting Illini commit, Barnett flipped his commitment to the SEC power. Barnett visited Tuscaloosa this weekend, marking just his second official visit of his recruitment, with the running back touring Illinois last April. Jan 13, 2024; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; The University of Alabama introduced new head football coach Kalen DeBoer with a press conference at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Nicole and Kalen DeBoer hold up an Alabama jersey after the press conference. © Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK Head coach Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide staff undoubtedly made a good impression on Barnett, as the Tampa, Florida native ditched his plans to join the Fighting Illini. Barnett is the second of two commitment flips for the Alabama Crimson Tide on Monday. Alongside Barnett, three-star safety Rihyael Kelley flipped his commitment from the Rutgers Scarlet Knights to the Tide. Advertisement As for Barnett, he becomes the first running back to give a verbal commitment to the Crimson Tide for 2026. At Tampa Bay Tech last season, the six-foot rusher averaged 83 rushing yards per game on 8.3 yards per attempt. He ran for 482 yards and eight touchdowns the year prior. Alabama's 2026 recruiting group continues to strengthen as the summer months continue. According to 247Sports, they now have the 28th-ranked recruiting class for 2026, following the verbal commitments of Barnett and Kelley. Five-star cornerback Jorden Edmonds highlights the recruiting class. He is the top-ranked corner in the country and the second best player in the state of Georgia, according to the 247Sports database. Related: Alabama 4-Star Commit Shuts Down Recruitment This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alabama flips 4-star class of 2026 recruit from Big Ten program in surprise move
The Alabama Crimson Tide picked up a nice flip in recruiting Monday morning. Four-star class of 2026 running back Javari Barnett flipped his commitment from the Illinois Fighting Illini and coach Bret Bielema to Alabama, he told On3. A 6-foot, 215-pound tailback from Tampa, Barnett had previously committed to the Illini back in April. Advertisement Barnett is ranked the No. 30 running back in 247Sports' Composite Rankings, and the 478th player overall. Auburn, Florida and Tennessee are among the SEC teams that visited Barnett before he committed to Illinois. Alabama's 2026 class now consists of nine hard commitments. Barnett is the third player in the past week to announce a commitment to the Crimson Tide and coach Kalen DeBoer. He joins 3-star Indianapolis defensive lineman JJ Finch, who committed on Sunday, and four-star quarterback Jett Thomalla, the No. 15 overall QB in the 2026 class who flipped from Iowa State. Alabama's 2026 class is ranked No. 11 by On3's Team Industry rankings. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama Crimson Tide news, notes and opinions. This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football flips 4-star RB Javari Barnett from Illinois
USA Today
23-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alabama flips second class of 2026 recruit from the Big Ten in one day
Hours after Alabama football flipped four-star running back Javari Barnett from the Illinois Fighting Illini on Monday, coach Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide have flipped another player who was committed to a Big Ten program. That player is 3-star recruit Rihyael Kelley, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound safety out of Cincinnati who had previously committed to Greg Schiano and Rutgers football. On3's Hayes Fawcett reported the news. While not as big a name as others on Alabama's 2026 recruiting board, Kelley is the No. 81 safety in 247Sports' Player Rankings. Most of his offers outside of Rutgers came from Group of Five schools: Toledo, Bowling Green, and James Madison among them. Kelley is the 10th hard commitment in Alabama's 2026 class. He's the fourth player in the past week to commit to the Crimson Tide and joins Barnett, 3-star defensive lineman JJ Finch (Warren Central High School, Indianapolis), and four-star quarterback Jett Thomalla (Millard South High School, Omaha), the No. 13 overall QB in the 2026 class per On3. Thomalla flipped his commitment to Alabama from Iowa State last week, while Finch committed to the Crimson Tide on Sunday over offers from Tennessee, Miami and Michigan. Alabama's 2026 class is ranked No. 11 by On3's Team Industry rankings. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama Crimson Tide news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
23-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alabama flips 4-star class of 2026 recruit from Big Ten program in surprise move
The Alabama Crimson Tide picked up a nice flip in recruiting Monday morning. Four-star class of 2026 running back Javari Barnett flipped his commitment from the Illinois Fighting Illini and coach Bret Bielema to Alabama, he told On3. A 6-foot, 215-pound tailback from Tampa, Barnett had previously committed to the Illini back in April. Barnett is ranked the No. 30 running back in 247Sports' Composite Rankings, and the 478th player overall. Auburn, Florida and Tennessee are among the SEC teams that visited Barnett before he committed to Illinois. Alabama's 2026 class now consists of nine hard commitments. Barnett is the third player in the past week to announce a commitment to the Crimson Tide and coach Kalen DeBoer. He joins 3-star Indianapolis defensive lineman JJ Finch, who committed on Sunday, and four-star quarterback Jett Thomalla, the No. 15 overall QB in the 2026 class who flipped from Iowa State. Alabama's 2026 class is ranked No. 11 by On3's Team Industry rankings. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama Crimson Tide news, notes and opinions.
