Alabama football landed its second commit in the class of 2026 on Sunday, just 25 hours over landing its first.
Georgia cornerback Dorian Barney joined Jamarrion Gordon, an in-state defensive back, in verbally pledging his football future to Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide. Barney’s decision came via social media. He chose UA over the Bulldogs, South Carolina and nine other finalists.
247Sports Composite ranked Barney as a top-50 player nationally and the fourth-best cornerback in his class. He held over 30 offers and recently was in Tuscaloosa in March with the new coaching staff. Former Buffalo head coach Mo Linguist has taken over the cornerback coaching responsibilities in the new era of Tide football.
Barney helped Peachtree (Georgia) Ridge to a 10-2 record last fall. As a sophomore, he caught six passes and 65 all-purpose yards but mostly shone defensively. Barney produced four interceptions, 10 passes defended, two quarterback hurries and 32 tackles. He is listed at 6-foot-1, 170 pounds.
His highlight tape showed an instinctual player reads a quarterback and diagnoses plays quickly. Alabama has needed to restock its defensive backs following Nick Saban’s retirement. After welcoming multiple transfers and freshmen this offseason, Barney and Gordon represent the next step of player acquisition.
While the 2025 recruiting class will DeBoer’s first full group in Tuscaloosa, many of those high-rated prospects have already found new homes, if at least via a verbal commitment. After Sunday, UA rose to fifth in the way-too-early 247Sports team recruiting rankings for the 2026 class.
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