Alabama football news: 4-star CB flips commitment from Vanderbilt to Crimson Tide

Alabama struck again on the recruiting trail Friday when 2028 four-star cornerback Braylen Gibbs of Knoxville Catholic flipped his commitment from Vanderbilt to the Crimson Tide.

Gibbs had been pledged to the Commodores since December 2025, but after multiple visits to Tuscaloosa, including Alabama’s A-Day event in April and another unofficial trip this past weekend, he decided to join Kalen DeBoer’s program. Alabama extended an offer to the Tennessee defensive back on March 11.

The Knoxville native is regarded as one of the top prospects in the 2028 cycle. Gibbs is the No. 257 overall player in the nation, the No. 25 cornerback in his class, and the No. 13 prospect in Tennessee regardless of position, according to the Rivals Industry Rankings. The 247Sports Composite also lists him as a four-star recruit and ranks him as the No. 13 athlete in the 2028 class.

Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing between 170 and 175 pounds, Gibbs brings considerable size to the Crimson Tide’s future secondary. His recruitment attracted a lot of attention, with scholarship offers from programs including Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Maryland, and Miami.

Gibbs becomes the third member of Alabama’s 2028 recruiting class and the second defensive commitment in the group. He joins linebacker Dustin Henry of Baltimore’s St. Francis Academy, who committed in June, and quarterback Charles Scott Jr. of Richmond, Virginia.

The commitment also gives the Crimson Tide their first defensive back pledge in the 2028 cycle. Gibbs’ decision gives Alabama another recruiting win as DeBoer and his staff continue building the foundation of their future classes with talent from across the Southeast.