Cedrick Simmons grew up an Alabama fan. That part was never a secret. And on Wednesday, the Class of 2027 wide receiver made it official by flipping his commitment from Auburn to Alabama, according to Hayes Fawcett of Rivals.
Simmons originally pledged to Auburn on June 23. It looked like a big win for Hugh Freeze and his staff, a direct recruiting victory over the in-state rival. But Alabama never stopped calling.
“They continued to recruit me, things really didn’t change with us after I committed,” Simmons told Steve Wiltfong of Yahoo Sports. He said the coaching staff and the culture at Alabama felt like home.
Why Simmons flipped
For Simmons, the decision came down to a few things. Playing opportunity. Development. And the fact that Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer played wide receiver himself at Sioux Falls.
“Coach Deboer played wide receiver so he definitely loves his wide receivers and knows how to use them,” Simmons said. “Wide receivers Coach Derrick Nix is a great teacher of the game. He’s very intense about it.”
Simmons also talked about the expectations at Alabama. The standard is different there, and he wanted to be part of it. “It’s a blessing and a dream come true,” he said. “Great. It feels like it was meant to be that way.”
The flip is a direct blow to Auburn’s recruiting momentum. Losing a guy who committed just weeks ago stings, especially when that guy grew up rooting for the other side. Alabama fans will love that part of the story.
Simmons is a 6-foot-3 receiver with the kind of frame that translates well to the SEC. He runs crisp routes and has solid hands. Programs like Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee were also in the mix before he chose the Tigers the first time around.
Now he’s a Crimson Tide commit. And the Iron Bowl recruiting battle just got another layer of heat.
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