The world of college football is brimming with captivating stories these days. One of the most intriguing isn’t about the Alabama Crimson Tide allegedly influencing the transfer of Miami-Ohio player Graham Nicholson, an accusation which Kalen DeBoer refutes. Nicholson was in the Transfer Portal for a week before deciding to join Alabama.
A far more compelling narrative involves the Tagovailoa family and Auburn’s efforts to recruit Taulia Tagovailoa from Maryland. According to the new book *The Price* by the esteemed Armen Keteyian, Auburn offered Taulia a hefty $1.5 million to transfer to their team.
The book reveals that Taulia was keen on securing a lucrative NIL deal, which Maryland couldn’t match. Galu Tagovailoa, who has been highly involved in managing his sons’ football careers, was rumored to have pushed for Taulia to leave Maryland for Miami.
However, Taulia chose to stay at Maryland, accepting a much smaller offer. A significant factor in his decision was his brother Tua’s strong disapproval of joining Auburn. According to *The Price*, Tua told Taulia, “We’re an Alabama family. You’re not going to Auburn.”
Alabama fans will likely remember this as a classic ‘Gump’ story, illustrating how influential big brother Tua was over Taulia. It’s worth noting that Tua had a strong bond with former Alabama offensive coordinator Mike Locksley.
Locksley was relieved when a six-figure NIL deal was enough to keep Taulia at Maryland, as opposed to the $1.5 million offered by Auburn. Locksley commented, “I got a homeboy discount because we ain’t paying him one point five [million].” Maryland might have matched the offer if possible, but they couldn’t.
This situation highlights the challenges facing the Auburn program and head coach Hugh Freeze. Auburn eventually settled for Payton Thorne, whereas Taulia Tagovailoa, who holds the record for the most passing yards in Big Ten history, would have been a much better fit for them. Auburn’s failure to secure Taulia, despite their larger offer, reflects poorly on both the program and Freeze.
The 2025 Alabama Crimson Tide recruiting class currently has 21 verbal commitments according to On3, while 247Sports lists Alabama with 20. The discrepancy arises because On3 includes Steve Mboumoua, a junior college player from the 2024 class, in their count, whereas 247Sports does not.
In the 247 Composite rankings, Alabama holds the No. 2 spot for their class, with the second-highest average player rating of 94.16, just behind Oregon’s 94.53. On3 also ranks Alabama at No. 2, but with Ohio State and Oregon ahead in terms of average player rating.
Alabama is performing well with 5-star recruits, tying Ohio State with four such commits according to On3. To gauge the class’s future impact more accurately, focusing on the Top 50 and Top 100 players is beneficial. Alabama has seven commits in the Top 50 (actually within the Top 47) and three more in the Top 100.
Looking ahead, Alabama’s recruiting needs are minimal. The team is seeking one or two defensive linemen, another safety for the secondary, a tight end, and a linebacker. Meeting these needs would bring the class total to 25 commitments, with insiders predicting a final count of around 26 or 27.
Key targets for Alabama include linebacker Ty Jackson and defensive lineman Justus Terry. Jackson, a 4-star inside linebacker from Florida, is heavily pursued by Florida, FSU, and Georgia, but some believe Alabama is in the lead. Terry, a 5-star recruit, is a top prospect for many teams, with Georgia currently favored to secure his commitment.
There could be changes in commitments before December, including potential flips. Alabama might lose a player or two, but this often results in securing even better recruits. For instance, running back commit Anthony Rogers could potentially flip, with teams like Georgia, Ohio State, Florida, and Auburn posing threats. Additionally, with five running backs returning for the 2025 season and AK Dear joining them, Rogers may face increased competition.
As December approaches, recruiting remains a priority, but other pressing matters will also need attention.
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