The Tide are indeed rolling.
Fresh off the heels of landing four-star linebacker Dawson Merritt, the Alabama Crimson Tide scored another huge commitment on the defensive side with 247Sports’ 2025 five-star composite cornerback Dijon Lee (No. 4 CB, No. 22 overall) from Mission Viejo, Calif.
4⭐️ CB Dijon Lee has committed to Alabama 🐘
— 247Sports (@247Sports) June 28, 2024
The No. 40 prospect in the Top247 chose Alabama over Texas, Georgia, USC, Washington, and Texas A&M 🏈
WATCH: https://t.co/4mYdmBXa4T pic.twitter.com/XkJHxDZLoS
Yes, the Nick Saban California pipeline has been reenergized by first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer. Lee joins two other Golden State recruits, also on the defensive side, from football powerhouse Mater Dei, cornerback Chuck McDonald III and linebacker Abduall Sanders Jr. (Nos. 166 and 153 in the ESPN 300).
Speaking of the ESPN 300, DeBoer already has the third-highest rated 2025 recruiting class by ESPN, and that was before the commitments from Merritt and Lee. The Tide are No. 2 in 247Sports’ composite team rankings.
247Sports calls Lee a “potential unicorn,” which would very much be in the mold of Caleb Downs, who of course bolted for the Ohio State Buckeyes after an electric freshman season in Tuscaloosa.
“Lee projects as a potential lockdown defensive back capable of smothering smaller receivers at the next level,” ESPN’s Eli Lederman writes about Alabama’s top-rated recruit. “And he possesses the frame and athleticism that could allow him to transition to safety in Tuscaloosa.”
Tide fans will never forget Nick Saban. But with the addition of Lee, maybe they’ll soon forget about the explosive Downs.
