Alabama Just Lost a Top WR Recruit to Auburn. Here’s How the Rest of the Class Is Shaping Up.

The in-state recruiting battle between Alabama and Auburn just got a little louder. Cedrick Simmons, a 5’10”, 195-pound wide receiver from the Class of 2027, announced his commitment to the Tigers on Monday, picking Auburn over Alabama and Purdue. The decision came through Hayes Fawcett of Rivals, with Simmons posting a simple message: “Let’s Work!!!! War Eagle.”

That stings for Alabama for a few reasons. Simmons is an explosive playmaker, the kind of athlete who can turn a short pass into 60 yards. And losing him to your biggest rival? That’s the kind of thing that gets talked about in living rooms and on message boards for months. The Tide had been pushing hard for him, but Auburn closed strong.

But the Tide didn’t leave the weekend empty-handed

While Simmons went to the Plains, Alabama picked up a couple of notable commitments on the other side of the ball. Four-star cornerback Braylen Gibbs flipped his pledge from Vanderbilt to Alabama for the 2028 cycle. He’s from Knoxville Catholic and had been committed to the Commodores since late 2025. But multiple visits to Tuscaloosa — including the A-Day spring game — finally convinced him to join Kalen DeBoer’s program.

Then there’s Darrius White. The 6’3″, 185-pound cornerback from the Class of 2027 announced his commitment via Rivals as well, posting “#IMHOME All Glory to God.” White is a long, athletic defensive back who gives Alabama some real size on the perimeter. That’s a nice pickup for a secondary that’s been in flux.

So you’ve got a mixed bag. Alabama missed on a top receiver but added two talented corners. It’s not a bad trade-off if you’re looking at the roster from a distance. But the Simmons miss is going to linger, especially if Auburn starts throwing him the ball in big moments a few years from now.

The Crimson Tide are coming off a rough end to their 2025 season — a Rose Bowl blowout loss to Indiana that nobody in Tuscaloosa has forgotten. The coaching staff is trying to rebuild momentum on the trail, and these recruiting wins and losses are part of that equation.

For Auburn, this is a win. For Alabama, it’s a reminder that the gap between these two programs might not be as wide as it used to be.