Kalen DeBoer Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK

Alabama loses big-time recruit after surprise decommit

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics | By Daniel Fisher | Last updated 3/19/24

Alabama football is experiencing many changes this offseason, with head coach Nick Saban calling it a career and Kalen DeBoer coming in as the new head coach. Of course, with Saban retiring, players will leave and decommit from the program, and the Crimson Tide saw another player do so on Saturday.

Alabama Sees A 2026 Player Leave

According to Hawes Fawcett from On3, inside offensive lineman Zykie Helton has decommitted from Alabama.

BREAKING: Class of 2026 IOL Zykie Helton has Decommitted from Alabama, he tells me for @on3recruits

The 6’3 260 IOL from Carrollton, GA had been Committed to the Crimson Tide since July

Holds offers from Georgia, Auburn, Texas A&M, & othershttps://t.co/qJ0I6cf7Vz pic.twitter.com/TibcaWthLT

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) March 16, 2024

Helton is from Carrollton, Georgia, and has been committed to the Crimson Tide since July.

According to Rivals.com, Helton has offers from Alabama, Auburn, Uconn, East Carolina, Georiga, Penn State, South Florida, Texas A&M, and Western Kentucky.

Kalen DeBoer Will Be Fine

Alabama has been experiencing a wave of players decommitting to the program since Nick Saban stepped down as head coach. Every school goes through this when a coach leaves, and schools even do this when a coach doesn’t. It’s just the way college football is these days.

Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide have nothing to worry about now, and DeBoer seems to be building up a good program. DeBoer is taking over for one of the greatest coaches ever to coach college football, and he will need some time, but he can be perfect. He has a tremendous offensive mind, players seem to love him, and he has had success everywhere he has gone.

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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