Kalen DeBoer's Alabama prepares to host the #1 player in the 2027 Class during a crucial Gameweek 5 clash against Kirby Smart's Bulldogs

By Aman Sharma

Modified Sep 21, 2024 13:56 GMT

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As Alabama's Week 5 showdown with Georgia approaches, coach Kalen DeBoer is tackling another significant task: hosting Elijah Haven, the top quarterback prospect of the 2027 class. Haven, a 6'4", 210-pound standout from Dunham School in Baton Rouge, is set to make an unofficial visit next weekend to watch the Tide face the Bulldogs on September 28.

Prior to that, Haven will be in Death Valley this weekend for LSU's matchup against UCLA, according to On3’s Steve Wiltfong.

Despite Ole Miss holding a slight edge in Haven's recruitment, Alabama is gaining momentum with the Baton Rouge native. The Tide has shown renewed interest, and this visit represents a big opportunity for DeBoer to strengthen ties with the 2027 prospect.

Haven had a stellar freshman season at Dunham, completing 67% of his passes, racking up over 2,000 yards, throwing 35 touchdowns, and only giving up two interceptions while leading his team to a 6-2A Championship.

Several high-profile recruits will join Haven in Tuscaloosa for the highly anticipated Georgia game, a contest that has drawn significant attention. Former U.S. President and 2024 President-Elect Donald Trump even confirmed he would attend.

Alabama's 2027 recruiting class, already ranked No. 1 and featuring 4-star defensive ends Jabarrius Garror and Ba'Roc Willis could get a huge boost with Haven’s commitment.

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Kalen DeBoer leads Alabama against Kirby Smart’s Georgia

The Alabama-Georgia rivalry has taken on a fresh dynamic this year with Kalen DeBoer at the helm of the Crimson Tide. Gone are the days of Kirby Smart facing his former mentor, Nick Saban. Instead, Smart will now go head-to-head with DeBoer as No. 4 Alabama hosts No. 1/2 Georgia on Saturday, Sept. 28 (6:30 p.m. CT, ABC) at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

For Kalen DeBoer, this marks his first encounter with Smart, adding a layer of intrigue to the matchup.

“I think the main thing is, this is for us our first conference game,” DeBoer said Wednesday on the SEC coaches teleconference. “It’s against an opponent (ranked) No. 1. Maybe No. 2 depending on where you look. A top-ranked team you know brings it each and every Saturday. Is going to be extremely well coached. We know it’s going to be a great test for us."

Kalen DeBoer, who has hit the ground running with a 63-0 win over Western Kentucky in his coaching debut, is focusing on building an offensive identity around the passing game. With the Tide offense led by Jalen Milroe, they’ll need their best performance yet to overcome a formidable Georgia defense.