Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Crimson Tide have been on a roll in the 2025 recruiting trail, but they recently suffered a setback in the 2026 class. Vodney Cleveland, a highly-touted 4-star defensive lineman from Parker High School in Birmingham, Alabama, announced his decommitment from the Crimson Tide on Monday.
Cleveland, who stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs 305 pounds, had been committed to Alabama since late October. He had chosen the Crimson Tide over several other top programs, including Tennessee, Oregon, Miami, and more. However, he has now reopened his recruitment, leaving Alabama with a void to fill in the 2026 class.
As a junior this season, Cleveland had an impressive campaign, recording 46 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, and 5.0 sacks. He played a key role in helping the Parker Thundering Herd win a state championship with a 14-1 record.
Cleveland’s decommitment marks the second time in the last month that Alabama has lost a commitment from the 2026 class. Cornerback Dorian Barney had previously decommitted from the Crimson Tide. As a result, Alabama currently has no commitments for the 2026 class and is unranked.
Despite this setback, Kalen DeBoer and his staff have plenty of time to regroup and refocus their recruiting efforts. After all, they finished the first recruiting cycle under DeBoer’s tenure with the No. 2 ranked class in the nation. With a strong track record and a talented pool of 2026 prospects still available, Alabama remains well-positioned to land an elite recruiting class.
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