On Tuesday, Kalen DeBoer accomplished one of his and his staff’s primary objectives in the 2026 recruiting cycle, acquiring two quarterbacks. After flipping Jett Thomalla from Iowa State earlier this summer, Alabama landed a commitment from another four-star QB, Tayden Kaawa, beating out Boise State and BYU.
Kaawa becomes the 20th member of the 2026 recruiting class, which, with his commitment, jumped from No. 6 in the country to No. 4, leapfrogging Notre Dame and Texas. The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Hawaii native, who plays his high school football in Orem, Utah, is the type of big-bodied, strong-armed passer that offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has thrived with in the past.