The Alabama Crimson Tide’s recruiting momentum suffered another blow this week as Dawson Merritt, a 4-star linebacker in the 2025 class, announced his commitment flip to Nebraska. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound standout from Blue Valley High School in Kansas had been a key piece of Alabama’s class since his pledge in June.
Merritt’s versatility as both a pass rusher and coverage linebacker made him a valuable prospect for Alabama, but Nebraska’s persistent efforts have swayed the No. 4 player in Kansas to join the Cornhuskers.
This marks the second decommitment for Alabama’s 2025 class in the same week, following Caleb Cunningham’s flip to Ole Miss. Despite these setbacks, the Crimson Tide still boasts one of the top recruiting classes in the nation, currently ranked No. 3 according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. However, these losses highlight the growing competition in the recruiting landscape as rival programs make aggressive moves to challenge Alabama’s dominance.
As signing day approaches, the Tide will need to regroup and solidify their remaining commitments to maintain their position atop the recruiting rankings.
