Darrell Johnson, a 4-star linebacker, joins Alabama as its March recruiting class continues.
On Wednesday, Alabama football maintained its scorching recruiting streak from March by securing its highest-ranked commitment in the 2025 class to yet.
Through the 247Sports YouTube channel, four-star athlete Darrell “Duke” Johnson, ranked No. 28 in the 247Sports Composite for 2025, made his commitment to Alabama known.
Johnson, who weighs 200 pounds and stands 6 feet 1 inch, is classified as an athlete on On3 and a linebacker on 247Sports. At Dodge County (Ga.) High, he plays running back and quarterback in addition to defensive back. Johnson, though, is Alabama’s expected linebacker. In March, he will join four-star recruits Derick Smith, Zymear Smith, and Antonio Coleman from Alabama.
Six four-star recruits from Alabama’s 2025 class have committed.
What does Alabama stand to gain from Johnson’s commitment?
Since Nick Saban’s staff made him an offer in the summer of 2023, Johnson has been under Alabama’s consideration. The new coaching staff under Kalen DeBoer made Johnson an offer again, and inside linebackers coach and defensive coordinator Kane Wommack as well as secondary coach and co-defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler promptly prioritized him. After seeing practice with the new staff on March 6th, Johnson paid an unofficial visit that left a significant enough impression for him to commit within two weeks.
After this season, Alabama’s inside linebackers—starters Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell as well as senior Justin Jefferson—will probably be gone. In the 2024 class, the Tide selected four inside linebackers, and Johnson, a top-30 national recruit, is just one more piece of skill they are assembling. To play linebacker, Johnson will need to put on a lot of weight, but if that doesn’t work out, he can still play defensive back at Alabama. In any case, the new personnel on that side will benefit from having a world-class athlete on the defensive end of the ball.
It is Alabama’s first pledge for 2025 in Georgia, a state that is rich in recruiting prospects for the Tide. In-state prospects make up four of Alabama’s six 2025 commits. Johnson’s addition is a significant, early victory for DeBoer’s team, as it will need to attract players from throughout the Southeast in order to maintain Alabama’s illustrious recruiting record.
