Alabama football’s productive March on the recruiting trail continued on Sunday when the Crimson Tide added their sixth 2025 class commitment of the month in three-star linebacker Luke Metz of Hoschton, Ga.
Metz is the latest in a string of linebacker additions in the past week, joining four-stars Darrell Johnson (March 20) and Abduall Sanders Jr. (March 21) in committing to play under new defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach Kane Wommack. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Metz is ranked No. 425 nationally in the 247Sports Composite.
Metz’s commitment brings Alabama’s 2025 class to eight commitments in the first cycle under Kalen DeBoer.
IM HOME!!!🐘🐘 https://t.co/yqnKkzIX4C
— Luke Metz 4⭐️LB (@lukeMetz25) March 24, 2024
What does this commitment mean for Alabama?
Inside linebacker has been the highest-prioritized position for Alabama early in the 2025 cycle. Metz is the fourth linebacker to commit in this class, joining the aforementioned names and four-star Myles Johnson, who committed under Nick Saban’s staff and remains aboard. There’s set to be attrition at that position after the 2024 season with projected departures Deontae Lawson, Jihaad Campbell and Justin Jefferson. Wommack is identifying players who fit his scheme and is securing commitments early in the calendar.
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Metz’s commitment is the latest evidence of the importance that DeBoer is placing on establishing recruiting momentum early in his tenure. Alabama moved quickly on Metz, offering him on March 4 before hosting him for an unofficial visit a few weeks later. His process follows a similar theme as the other March commits: get players on campus, let them experience the direction of the program and turn that excitement into traction.
“I don’t think there’s anything new, I just think our staff’s just done a really good job,” DeBoer said this week. “We did have to play some catch-up early on just trying to build some relationships quickly. Obviously it’s identify (players) first, and then kind of get in the game with some relationships. Our staff, both on-the-field staff and our recruiting staff, have done a good job working hard and being on the same page.
“Getting these guys here to campus has been really a big deal. Once they get here they get to know everyone and it’s led to success, as you’ve seen.”
DeBoer is continuing to prioritize off-field staffers. On Friday, Alabama football announced two new hires to bolster the recruiting department’s video and social media presence: Walt Brock (director of creative and production) and Dante Oliver (associate director of cinematography and social media).
“I think it’s a big deal,” DeBoer said. “Not just with the average fan, but what the recruits and prospects that we’re looking at — what they like and what’s attractive to them. Just trying to showcase our program. Also to get our message out and them to understand the culture we’re trying to build here and what all our resources are and who the people are that work here.”
Alabama’s March commitment streak is a strong start for DeBoer and his staff ahead of April 13’s spring game, the spring transfer window in which the Tide are expected to be aggressive and the most important part of the recruiting calendar in June and July when high school camps and official visits take center stage. There’s roughly eight months until the early signing period and a lot can happen, but to this point, Alabama’s recruiting infrastructure is still operating at a high level.
(Photo: Kirby Lee / USA Today)
