Alabama Crimson Tide continues to build the class of their 2026 roster after an unforeseen fall in this year’s playoff bracket. Kalen DeBoer is tapping into his competitive spirit to decorate his depth chart. He already has seven players ranked in the top 100 in the 2026 class. This week, they extended an offer to one of the top-rising in-state receivers in the 2026 class, Corey Barber. They have also heavily reached out to Brandon Arrington, who plays both corner and wide receiver positions and can be a lofty adjunct into the receiver depth of the next year. However, Kalen DeBoer and the rest of the Bama offensive squad were unaware that they would soon have a valuable addition in the 2026 receiver room.

Here comes the 15-year-old kid, Ethan Feaster, the five-star wide receiver from DeSoto, Texas, who just made up his mind about joining the collegiate rank a bit earlier than originally intended. Feaster was initially one of the top priority prospects in the 2027 Alabama recruiting class. Still, now, he has a feeling that he can contribute even earlier, which is undoubtedly good news for the Tide.

The young prodigy announced his landmark decision via a tweet. Feaster expressed his strong passion and urge behind the move in a video: “Ever since I was a five-year-old, it was my dream to be the best player in the country. I know there is no time to waste: I am ready to go get it now, This year, I am giving all my favorite coaches a special Valentine’s gift, I will be graduating next year in the class of 2026. The time is now!”

But who pushed him to make the uncanny move after all? Well, it’s Tide’s very own Ryan Williams who made a similar move when he reclassified from the class of 2025 to the class of 2024 in mid-July 2023.

However, DeBoer can still miss his hold on the almost sure-shot Texas native. After all, the massive WR talent garnered a whopping 45 offers from fellow top-tier schools.

Alabama dealing with tough competition to swoop Ethan Feaster 

Ethan has strong hands, and despite his smaller stature, a unique combination of his strong football IQ and robust physique made him an unforgettable catch for the coaches. The premium receiver talent in next year’s class garnered the eyeballs of programs like Arkansas State, Ole Miss, Louisville, Michigan, Georgia Tech, UCF, Alabama, Tennessee, and others. While Alabama is meant to be on the front line of his recruitment stretch throughout, Tennessee’s Josh Heupel is seemingly paying some heed.

Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Vols made a significant acquisition in the 2026 class when they secured the commitment of the top-ranked quarterback, Faizon Brandon. They need to reel in good receivers to produce an overall compelling offense. They already have extended an offer to the five-star Texas WR. But it seems they still need to put in some work to stay relevant in the high-octane competition.

They are one of the 12 teams that are still vying for Ethan’s services, and Heupel and wide receiver coach Kelsey Pope look to make the most out of their position. They will first want to secure an official visit in June. According to On3 Sports’ Steve Wiltfong, Feaster has a visit set with USC in June and will visit Texas A&M, LSU, and SMU. If Tennessee manages to get involved, they have the potential to get the WR.

Feaster, as a sophomore last fall, has put together a total of 57 passes for 824 yards and 13 touchdowns. Through two high school seasons, he’s totaled 22 receiving yards. It would be a treat to see the prodigy jump ship to his ideal school soon and continue building the legacy.