The Crimson Tide continues to roll on the recruiting trail.

Alabama picked up it’s second commitment for the 2026 recruiting class this week, landing 4-Star defensive lineman Vodney Cleveland from Birmingham, Alabama. Cleveland is fourth ranked player in the state of Alabama and the third ranked defensive lineman in the nation.

The 6-foot-3, 305 lb. defender holds over 25 division one offers and chose Alabama over the likes of Tennessee, Oregon, Miami and more. He joins cornerback Dorian Barney as just the second commitment for the 2026 class for the Crimson Tide. Barney committed to Alabama back in May.

Cleveland is a big bodied defensive lineman with the ability to stuff running lanes and wreak havoc up front with his size. He’s a player with a skillset similar to that of someone like Tim Keenan III, who frequently causes problems for opposing offensive linemen facing off against Alabama’s defense.

As a junior this season he has 38 total tackles, six of which went for a loss, and has helped guide the Parker Thundering Herd to a 9-1 record.

As of now, Alabama holds the 36th ranked recruiting class in the nation for 2026, but if the 2025 class is any indicator, Kalen DeBoer and his staff will continue to win on the recruiting trail.

Welcome to Alabama Crimson Tide On SI and BamaCentral!

Alabama Crimson Tide On SI was originally called BamaCentral, and first went live on July 16. 2018 (right in the middle of SEC Media Days). It was Founded by Christopher Walsh, an award-winning journalist and author of 27 books who first started covering the Crimson Tide in 2004. His aim was to create a home for sports journalists who, first-and-foremost, cared about the profession, the craft and proving the best coverage of Alabama athletics.

The website became your Sports Illustrated home for all things Crimson Tide in 2019. It’s not just a slogan or motto, it’s something we take very seriously. In 2024,  Minute Media obtained the publishing rights to Sports Illustrated, and BamaCentral followed as an affiliate.

In addition to football and basketball, which we’ve recently sent the most reporters to cover the teams on the road, Alabama Crimson Tide On SI is the only media outlet that also provides daily coverage of Alabama softball, baseball and gymnastics.

Walsh is an eight-time award winner from the Football Writers Association of America, and three-time winner of the story of the year from the Alabama Sports Writers Association, tied for the most in that organization’s 50-plus year history.

BamaCentral is also the online home of the ASWA.