In a significant recruiting shake-up, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer has lost a promising prospect, linebacker Jaedon Harmon, to the Tennessee Volunteers.
Losing a player the caliber of Harmon certainly hurts – but losing him to one of your biggest rivals pours a gallon of salt on the wound.
Despite his success in building a winning program at Washington, DeBoer has yet to fully establish his recruiting dominance at Alabama.
This was underscored when Tennessee’s head coach Josh Heupel managed to secure Harmon’s commitment, taking advantage of Alabama’s slight vulnerability.
Harmon, a four-star linebacker and the 18th-ranked player at his position nationwide, announced his decision to de-commit from Alabama and join the Tennessee Volunteers.
His departure is a notable loss for the Crimson Tide, who had hoped to bolster their defensive lineup with his talent.
In his announcement on X, Harmon expressed gratitude toward the Alabama staff, saying, “I want to thank the entire Alabama staff for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to play for a great program! Respect my decision.”
For Tennessee, Harmon becomes the 23rd commitment in their 2025 recruiting class, solidifying what could be a top-five ranked class nationally.
His addition marks another victory for Heupel, who has been on a recruiting tear.
As for Alabama, DeBoer and his staff are already looking ahead. While Harmon’s decision is a blow, the Crimson Tide have secured commitments from other notable recruits, including Luke Metz, Duke Johnson, and Abduall Sanders Jr.
All three seem firmly committed to Alabama, with no signs of wavering.
With Harmon out of the picture, Alabama can now shift its recruiting focus to other high-profile targets, such as Ty Jackson, who remains uncommitted for the 2025 class.
Although losing Harmon stings, Alabama still boasts one of the top recruiting classes in the country, a testament to the program’s enduring allure and culture.
Of course, no one is going to panic too much in Tuscaloosa. After all, the loss of Harmon won’t put much of a dent into a program as powerful as Alabama.
If anything, it’s just another example of the changing times in the NIL world.
What are your thoughts on Tennessee snagging Harmon from under the Alabama’s nose???