On Christmas Eve, the Alabama Crimson Tide received some promising news on the recruiting trail. 2026 four-star cornerback Zyan Gibson announced his commitment to Alabama over Auburn, Miami (FL), and Tennessee. He is the first player to commit to the Crimson Tide as a part of the ’26 recruiting class. Gibson is an Alabama native, and in-state recruiting will be key for Alabama moving forward.
Previously, Alabama had a verbal commitment from 2026 four-star defensive line Vodney Cleveland. A week ago, he announced that he was decommitting from the Crimson Tide. Something else that is eye-catching is the fact that Alabama was out-recruited by Auburn in terms of landing in-state talent in 2025.