​Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer didn’t have to go far to find a quarterback for the Crimson Tide’s 2028 class. Instead of crisscrossing the country, DeBoer and his staff simply needed to travel two hours east to Alexander City, Alabama, where Kingston Preyear shines at Benjamin Russell High School. On Friday, July 10, Preyear announced his commitment to Alabama, choosing the Crimson Tide over Florida and Vanderbilt. According to 247Sports, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound quarterback is ranked as the No. 68 overall prospect in the 2028 cycle, the No. 5 quarterback, and the No. 3 player in Alabama. The USA TODAY High School Sports composite ranking, which combines rankings from several industry leaders, places Preyear as the No. 42 overall player in the class and the No. 4 quarterback.
Preyear transferred to Benjamin Russell ahead of his sophomore year after beginning his high school career at Montgomery Catholic, where he played as a freshman. During his freshman season, he propelled Montgomery Catholic to the Class 5A championship by completing 70 percent of his passes for 1,787 yards and 20 touchdowns. Last season, he helped Benjamin Russell post a 12-2 record, throwing for 3,026 yards and 34 touchdowns while sustaining just five interceptions, with his completion rate at 62 percent.
For years, Alabama has been known for cultivating a program rich with elite skill players and stout defensive talent. Since 2020, the Crimson Tide have developed a reputation as a program that attracts top quarterback prospects from across the nation. Preyear’s commitment adds another high-caliber signal-caller to the fold. He is the latest in a string of top-tier quarterback pledges for Alabama, following the addition of five-star quarterback Elijah Haven in the 2027 class. In each of the last four recruiting cycles, Alabama has secured commitments from at least one top-50 quarterback, underscoring a sustained emphasis on attracting premier quarterback talents. Since 2020, the program has only logged two classes without an elite quarterback prospect.
In Alabama’s 2028 class, Preyear stands as the program’s highest-rated player to date, according to 247Sports. He has become the Crimson Tide’s fifth commitment of the cycle, further solidifying the nation’s perception of Alabama’s ongoing quarterback recruiting prowess. This commitment from Preyear continues a trend of in-state success for Alabama, aligning with the program’s desire to keep top local talents within its fold and strengthen its future offensive horizons.
Note: This article originally appeared on USA TODAY and has been updated for SEO purposes to reflect Kingston Preyear’s in-state commitment to Alabama for the 2028 class.