Alabama Offers 2026 QB From Utah on Wednesday

Kalen DeBoer and his staff are still on the hunt for their quarterback for the 2026 class, with the Tide hosting two four-star quarterbacks in the span of the last two weekends, and Alabama looks to have its eyes on another quarterback prospect in the class.

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The Crimson Tide's quarterback room is currently in the midst of a battle to find out who will be QB1 on August 30th when the Tide faces off against Florida State in Doak Campbell Stadium. Alabama currently has Ty Simpson, who is entering his junior season and has had limited playing time since arriving in Tuscaloosa, with this season seeming to be the year that the No. 3 quarterback out of the Tide's 2022 class can showcase his talent in Crimson. Austin Mack, who was initially committed to Kalen DeBoer when he was the head coach of Washington back in 2023 and transferred in 2024 for DeBoer's first season with the Tide, and 2025 signee five-star Keelon Russell are battling Simpson for a chance at the starting position.

Alabama extended an offer to three-star Hayden Kaawa out of Orem, Utah, with Kaawa announcing on his X profile Wednesday that he is “so honored” to receive an offer from the Crimson Tide.

The rising senior had an outstanding junior season at Ormen, throwing for 3,280 passing yards and rushing for 318 yards, resulting in a total of 35 touchdowns for the season. This three-star quarterback currently holds offers from 18 schools, with Alabama being the second SEC school to extend an offer, following Mississippi State, which offered Kaawa back on January 16, according to 247 Sports.

Kaawa is a 6-foot-4, 190-pound quarterback originally from Honolulu, Hawaii. He is ranked as the No. 24 quarterback, the No. 6 player from Utah, and the No. 366 overall prospect in the 2026 class, according to the 247 Sports Composite. Coach DeBoer and his staff have extended offers to ten quarterbacks for this class. Recently, the Tide hosted Iowa State commit Jett Thomalla, who is 6-foot-4, 200 pounds and ranked as the No. 15 quarterback in the 2026 class according to 247 Sports. Thomalla told On3’s Steve Wiltfong earlier this week that he is “still thinking” about his decision. He visited the Tide two weekends ago, on May 30, after previously committing to the Cyclones back in April.

This past weekend, the Crimson Tide hosted four-star quarterback Matt Ponatoski from Ohio, who is 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, and ranks as the No. 21 quarterback in the 2026 class according to 247 Sports Composite. Alabama offered the State of Ohio’s Gatorade Player of the Year back on May 15. Ponatoski is currently down to four schools, with those programs being Alabama, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Oregon.

Kaawa might be the lowest-rated prospect out of the two quarterbacks who have been on campus in the past two weekends. Still, the Hawaii native possesses a significant upside, as his film showcases his pinpoint accuracy. He has a real knack for knowing where to place the ball so that only his receiver will come down with it. Kaawa also has impressive pocket awareness and can throw well on the run. However, he isn’t the quickest, and don’t forget Russel was a three-star last year when DeBoer and his staff found the soon-to-be five-star prospect that finished as the No.2 overall recruit in the 2025 class and the highest rated Alabama recruit in program history.

The Tide has two vital recruiting weekends scheduled for this month. It wouldn't be surprising if Alabama hosts Kaawa on campus for one of those weekends, as the three-star quarterback recently told Wiltfong that "They (Alabama) stand pretty high moving forward," following the Crimson Tide's offer on Wednesday.

Alabama’s 2026 class currently ranks ninth in the nation and fourth in the SEC, holding six commits, with the Tide recently earning a commitment from four-star offensive lineman Samuelu Utu on Monday. The Tide’s 2026 class currently has one five-star in Jorden Edmonds and five four-stars, with three of those guys ranking in the top-300 prospects according to On3.

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