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Alabama Dealt Unfortunate Recruiting News on Saturday originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Alabama Crimson Tide were one of three finalists for 2026 offensive tackle Deacon Schmitt.
However, Schmitt did not end up picking the Crimson Tide and instead chose another SEC school. On3’s Hayes Fawcett reported Saturday that Schmitt decided to go with the Oklahoma Sooners.
His finalists were Alabama and the Colorado Buffaloes. Schmitt is a native of Windsor, Colorado, and comes in at 6-foot-5, 310 pounds.
He also held offers from the Kansas State Wildcats, USC Trojans, Georgia Bulldogs, Ohio State Buckeyes, and others.
Schmitt would have Alabama’s first offensive tackle commit from the 2026 class. The Crimson Tide has commits from two inside offensive linemen, but no offensive tackles.
Schmitt is a four-star prospect and the No. 30 offensive tackle in the On3 Industry Rankings. He is the top recruit from Colorado in the 2026 class.
The Sooners made him a priority during the recruiting process, hosting him for five visits. Alabama recently had Schmitt in Tuscaloosa for an official visit on May 30.
Oklahoma was the second-to-last school to see Schmitt before his commitment, having him in Norman on June 6.
Regardless of Schmitt’s commitment to Oklahoma, Alabama’s 2026 class still ranks No. 9 overall on On3 Sports.
The class is highlighted by five-star corner Jorden Edmonds, five-star running back Ezavier Crowell, and four-star corner Zyan Gibson.
While not getting Schmitt was a recruiting blow, the Crimson Tide received some good news from four-star edge rusher Jamarion Matthews. Matthews took to social media on Saturday to reaffirm his commitment to Alabama, shutting down his recruitment.
The second year of the Kalen DeBoer era opens against the Florida State Seminoles on August 30. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Related: Mark Ingram II Thanks Future Alabama Opponent for Bulletin Board Material
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
