In a stunning twist, five-star wide receiver Caleb Cunningham has flipped his commitment from Ole Miss back to Alabama, sending shockwaves through the college football recruiting world. Originally pledging to the Crimson Tide in July 2024, Cunningham stunned many by switching to Ole Miss in November—only to now make another dramatic reversal and return to Alabama.
Cunningham, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound standout from Ackerman, Mississippi, is ranked as the No. 16 overall prospect in the 2025 recruiting class and the second-ranked wide receiver, just behind Oregon commit Dakorien Moore. His decision to rejoin Alabama bolsters an already loaded Crimson Tide class that features four other five-star players.
The flip comes after Cunningham had attended several Ole Miss games, including their signature 28-10 upset win over Georgia, a moment that played a big role in his original decision to commit to the Rebels. However, Alabama never stopped recruiting him. Their relentless pursuit—combined with the program’s reputation for developing top-tier NFL wide receiver talent—ultimately won him back.
Cunningham’s high school coach, Dillon Mitchell, raved about his game-changing ability: “He demands a ton of attention. You have to design plays around him because defenses react to wherever he lines up.” With a rare combination of speed, route-running precision, and physicality, Cunningham consistently creates separation and makes tough, contested catches look easy.
Head coach Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama staff deserve major credit for pulling off this recruiting coup. Their persistence and ability to close on elite talent proved critical, ensuring one of the nation’s top receivers will suit up in Tuscaloosa.
With Cunningham’s return, Alabama’s 2025 recruiting class cements itself among the best in the nation. His presence adds immediate firepower to an already explosive offense and continues the Tide’s tradition of churning out next-level talent at the receiver position.
This high-profile flip also underscores just how volatile and high-stakes college football recruiting has become. In a landscape shaped by NIL, relationships, and national exposure, commitments are fluid, and battles for top-tier talent can swing overnight. For Alabama, this one ends with a major victory—and for Crimson Tide fans, the anticipation for Cunningham’s arrival just got even more electric.
