Seven takeaways from Jared Smith, Na’eem Offord, Alabama recruits in action

ALABAMA — Rivals National Recruiting Analyst Sam Spiegelman was on the sidelines for several marquee games featuring several of Alabama’s top recruits in the 2025, 2026 and 2027 classes. Included in that group are several blue-chippers, including players committed to Auburn, Miami, Ohio State, Washington, Tulane, and more.

Here are seven takeaways from the live in-person evaluations:

There might not be another defensive end who has made a bigger statement to open the season than Jared Smith. Smith, the No. 4-ranked DE in the Rivals250 out of Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson has been absolutely electric flying off the line and making splash plays off the edge over the past month.

Smith has exceptional burst and an explosive first step. He turns the corner with conviction and plays with a high motor. At 6-foot-5 and north of 230 pounds, Smith’s length and size allow him to impact plays consistently.

Over the past year and change, no prospect in the Southeast has taken a bigger leap forward than Smith, a key component of Auburn’s top-five recruiting class. Smith is not only a stock-up player, but an absolute force off the edge with the way he can get after opposing quarterbacks at that size and clip. At a premium position, Smith is someone who needs to be in the conversation for a fifth star.

Five-star CB Na’eem Offord barely got a full half of action in for Birmingham (Ala.) Parker, but the No. 2-ranked cornerback in the Rivals250 flashed in spurts. Offord is long at 6-foot-1.5 and just about 180 pounds, and his ability to accelerate in a hurry was on full display in the opening series as the Ohio State verbal beat a host of defenders in the open field and nearly broke loose to the end zone on a punt return.

Offord doesn’t see much attention on his side of the ball — and smothered a wide receiver on the one target he received. The five-star CB mirrored the receiver’s route and seamlessly broke on the ball for a breakup. We love the anticipation and suddenness that Offord possesses. He has elite traits for the position and shined in coverage as well as in the return game operating in tight spaces.

Rivals four-star DB Timothy Merritt worked at quarterback for Birmingham (Ala.) Parker and turned on the jets on a handful of occasions for big splash plays operating the offense. Merritt is a long defensive back at 6-foot-2 and almost 185 pounds, and he was fantastic evading defenders in the open field. He can turn and run easily and can accelerate in a hurry.

Merritt broke off several long gains beating a host of defenders around the outside. He also reached a noticeable second gear. We are confident in those traits projecting well at safety for Miami.

Four-star DT Jourdin Crawford is a menace inside at north of 300 pounds. The Auburn verbal occupied multiple blockers and was still forceful in the middle of the Birmingham (Ala.) Parker High defensive line — even providing an interior pass rush on several instances during one half of action.

Crawford is a true nose tackle, and in doing so his effective work in the middle opened up opportunities for his teammates — like Washington DE commit. Caleb Smith, who has fantastic short-area quickness in space and was able to fly off the edge and capitalize on the interior pressure in the pocket forced by Crawford.

We love what we’ve already seen in the early season from Cederian Morgan, who over the summer clocked a 4.55 second 40 time at 6-foot-4 and 209 pounds at multiple camp settings. Morgan has excellent hands and a massive catch radius, creating mismatches across the field.

Morgan is physically impressive on the hoof and is equally as efficient running routes, gaining separate, working downfield, and also playing above the rim. He has superb range and polish to his game, and there is no shortage of physicality when extending plays and doing damage after the catch.

Morgan has turned his game up a notch and then some in such a short period, and the upside is too hard to ignore. The entire country is in pursuit of the No. 31-ranked WR in the Rivals250, who has visited Florida and Auburn this fall and will be at Alabama later this month. He is also being heavily pursued by Florida State, Georgia and Ohio State, among others.

Look no further than Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson High for more young talent on the defensive front in the form of 2026 DE Peter Ramil and 2027 DE Cameron Pritchett. Ramil, who checks in just about 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, is an athletic defender who works off the edge and has fantastic speed patrolling out the sideline and flying to the football. Georgia Tech and Syracuse are early overtures for Ramil.

Pritchett, a 2027 standout, is a candidate to line up anywhere from a 3-technique out to a 5-tech and is an absolute force firing off the ball. He was powerful occupying blockers and clogging up running lanes inside. Pritchett also provided a formidable pass rush from the interior of the defensive line and also off the edge on specific downs, too. We love the upside here and could see him being an absolute force on this defensive front in not too long.

Trent Seaborn is already becoming a well-known commodity in the 2027 class after turning in a decorated freshman season at Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson High. The sophomore has picked up right where he left off — operating a very explosive, efficient offense. Seaborn gets rid of the ball quickly and has a good grasp managing the offense.

The 2027 passer impressed throwing on the move and making smart decisions as he went through his reads. Seaborn connected on several passes on routes to multiple levels of the field and delivered with touch. We love the decisiveness and anticipation on throws. Tennessee, Texas, Miami, LSU, Alabama and Auburn are among the teams in pursuit