Watch: 5-star Alabama WR commit Caleb Cunningham gets real on decision to join Kalen DeBoer's team: "They are the best"
Five-star prospect Caleb Cunningham, from Choctaw County High School in Ackerman, Mississippi, committed to Alabama's 2025 recruiting class on Saturday. The wide receiver announced his decision via a social media post after officially visiting the Crimson Tide on June 21-23.
Cunningham is the No. 4 wide receiver, the No. 23 overall player nationally and the No. 1 player in Mississippi, according to On3. 247Sports places him as the No. 3 wide receiver, the No. 22 overall player nationally and the No. 1 in the state.
Caleb Cunningham has received more than two dozen offers, and besides Alabama, he has officially visited Auburn, Florida and Tennessee. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound WR also made an unofficial visit to Ole Miss in June, but coach Kalen DeBoer's Alabama stood out in his eyes.
“Alabama has it all," Cunningham told On3. "You can’t go against Bama. They are the best. They have great coaches, they develop players, I feel at home there and I get to play with a great quarterback in Keelon Russell."
Caleb Cunningham initially did not include Alabama as a finalist, but a meeting with Crimson Tide wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard changed his perspective.
“I love coach Shep and how he coaches. He pushes his guys, develops his guys and I know he can make me better," Cunningham said.
The legacy of excellence established during the Nick Saban era, with six national championships and 11 SEC championships over 17 seasons, continues to be a significant draw. Alabama’s reputation for developing top-tier wide receivers such as Jaylen Waddle, Amari Cooper, DeVonta Smith and Calvin Ridley also played a big role in Cunningham’s decision.
Cunningham is confident that the success will continue under DeBoer.
"Alabama is going nowhere under coach Kalen DeBoer," Cunningham said. "They are only going up. The new era at Alabama is going to be the same as it was under Nick Saban. They are going to get players and win championships."
Caleb Cunningham caught 48 passes for 1,138 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. He excels in basketball and track and field as well, and he is a state qualifier in the long jump and triple jump.
Cunningham's junior year accolades included being named the All-Area High School Basketball Player of the Year by the Starkville Daily News while averaging 20 points per game in his sophomore season.
Alabama recruiting class update with Caleb Cunningham's commitment
Caleb Cunningham is the second wide receiver commitment in Alabama's 2025 class, joining Lotzeir Brooks. He is also the fourth five-star pledge in the class, joining quarterback Keelon Russell, linebacker Darrell “Duke” Johnson and cornerback Dijon Lee.
With Cunningham’s commitment, Alabama's 2025 class now boasts 21 pledges, securing its position as the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation, only behind Ohio State. The Crimson Tide leads the SEC, according to the On3 Sports Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.
The commitment surge has been particularly strong since early June, with Alabama receiving 12 new commitments during this period. The recruiting momentum doesn’t seem to be slowing down as the program continues to actively pursue top talents like Kaliq Lockett, Derek Meadows, Ty Haywood and AK Dear.
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