Alabama football scored its second recruiting win in two days on Friday. Jamarion Matthews, an edge who will play his senior season at Gainesville High School in Georgia, reportedly committed to the Crimson Tide.
Hayes Fawcett of On3 reported the addition to Kalen DeBoer’s second full recruiting class as the Tide’s head coach.
Matthews played his 2024 season at Sparkman in Harvest, before announcing his transfer to Gainesville on Thursday. He is listed as a four-star edge prospect by the 247Sports composite rankings.
The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Matthews had 57 tackles at Sparkman last season, with 17 sacks. His offers include Arkansas, Clemson, Florida and North Carolina, among others.
Physically, Matthews could fit more as the Crimson Tide’s “bandit” defensive end, than as a stand-up edge. The bandit is a more traditional defensive end.
He visited campus in Tuscaloosa at least twice, most recently for Alabama’s junior day. Matthews also was in attendance for the Iron Bowl win over Auburn.
Matthews joined the Crimson Tide’s 2026 class one day after Chris Booker. Booker, a four-star interior offensive lineman from Georgia, became the second commitment in the class.
Ahead of Matthews’ commitment, Alabama’s 2026 group was ranked No. 43 nationwide according to the 247 composite. After he joined, the class moved up to No. 32.
The group also includes four-star Gadsden City defensive back Zyan Gibson. Gibson was the first member of the class.
The 2026 class comes as DeBoer looks to prove he can keep Alabama on the same trajectory as Nick Saban, recruiting-wise. DeBoer’s first full cycle landed a 2025 group that was ranked No. 3 overall on the 247 composite.
