Alabama
Jumbo Package: Alabama Football continues to improve in their 2025 Recruiting class efforts

Alabama picked up two new recruiting commits for 2025 over the weekend, and now the Tide is hosting two more big targets this week in WR Kaliq Lockett and TE Kaleb Edwards:
The Tide will host two recruits on campus starting Monday for midweek visits with five-star receiver Kaliq Lockett and four-star tight end Kaleb Edwards.
The Tide wasn’t a serious player in the recruitment of Kaliq Lockett until they landed a commitment from Keelon Russell. Lockett is also a Texas Native ranked as On3’s 2nd-ranked receiver and the 12th-ranked player in the class. Alabama was able to land this visit as Lockett and Keelon Russell have talked about teaming up in college.
Making a strong impression on Kaliq Lockett may also give the Crimson Tide a good chance at fellow five-stars Dakorien Moore and former Alabama commit Jaime Ffrench as the trio has had talks about playing together. The Crimson Tide will need to overcome in-state Texas, LSU, and Florida State, but, this staff has been making strong impressions all summer.
Also on campus this week will be four-star tight end Kaleb Edwards, ranked by On3 as the fifth-ranked tight end in the class and the 122nd-best player. The Crimson Tide got Kaleb Edwards on campus in April where they extended an offer. Kalen DeBoer and his staff have a preexisting relationship with Edwards as they offered him last year while at Washington.
Other than this piece from BamaHammer, I’ve not heard any buzz about either of these two prospects – however, an official visit is always a chance for things to really change, so definitely keep an eye out for either of these names in the coming weeks.
In more recruiting news, current Tide commit Luke Metz has been gaining steam in the recruiting world, and got the full royalty treatment from UGA over the weekend… Only to come back still committed to the Tide:
There also is a little buzz around 5-star OT Ty Haywood:
Putting in MY OWN prediction for #Alabama to land 2025 5 ⭐️ OT Ty Haywood
The #8 player nationally was supposed to officially visit Oklahoma this past weekend, but did not make it to Norman. @BOL_On3 says the trip may not even be rescheduled This comes as a major surprise… pic.twitter.com/zq0V89fXxY
— Recruits Bama (@RecruitsBama) June 17, 2024
Who knows whether this one comes to fruition or not… But players cancelling visits to other schools is never a bad sign, that’s for sure.
And on top of it all, California OT Jackson Lloyd is set to announce his commitment later today… With most predicting that he is most likely going to Alabama:
Carmel (Calif.) offensive lineman Jackson Lloyd has set his announcement date and time.
Lloyd will announce his commitment on Tuesday, June 18 at 12 p.m. PST.
Earlier this month, Lloyd named a top six of alphabetically, Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon, Stanford, USC and Tennessee.
I mean, hey I thought that Kalen DeBoer wouldn’t be able to recruit at Alabama…. So I can’t imagine the Tide continuing to have success on the recruiting trail.
In basketball news, the Tide’s new team has settled in on their jersey numbers… For now.
Plus, Nate Oats got his first alumni NBA championship, with the Boston Celtics winning the title with JD Davison on the team (albeit on the bench).

Alabama
Alabama State University assistant band director dies

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – Alabama State University is mourning the loss of one of their own.
The university announced Saturday evening that Assistant Band Director Charles Goodwin III has died.
In a statement to WSFA 12 News, the University said, “Mr. Goodwin was a dedicated educator, musician and mentor whose passion and commitment left an indelible mark on the ASU community.”
“His legacy will continue to resonate through the music, spirit, and excellence he helped inspire,” The university added.
ASU has not released any information regarding the circumstances of Goodwin’s death.
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Copyright 2025 WSFA. All rights reserved.
Alabama
TV star and hay farmer from Alabama attending Idaho Falls event – East Idaho News

The following is a news release and photos from Ball Ventures.
IDAHO FALLS – Dust off your boots for an unforgettable evening of country fun at The Waterfront Round Up.
It’s happening Friday, June 13 at 7 p.m. at The Waterfront at Snake River Landing. This free, family-friendly event is the perfect way to kick off summer, with music, dancing, and a special guest appearance from Jay Woods, star of “Farmer Wants a Wife.”
Woods, a cattle and hay farmer from Florence, Alabama, will be teaching roping skills and meeting fans throughout the night. Known for promoting the Western lifestyle and connecting with communities across the country, Woods shared his excitement.
“I’m honored to be part of the Waterfront Round Up. I’ve heard great things about Idaho Falls, and I can’t wait to connect with the community and celebrate the Western way of life.”
The evening will feature:
- Line dancing and music with a live DJ
- $10 Mechanical bull rides with a prize for the longest ride
- $ 5 Roping lessons with Jay Woods
- $ 3 Hover ball archery
- Corn hole, vendor booths, and family activities
- Delicious eats from local food trucks including CalaKas Tacos & Miches and Roadhouse Saloon, with drinks available for purchase (alcoholic and non-alcoholic)
Local vendors, such as Bejeweled Creations, Wild One Clothing Co., and JC Beauty Co., will also be on-site, offering Western-inspired goods.
Admission is free, and all ages are welcome. Whether you’re a seasoned rancher or just love a good time under the stars, this is one summer event you won’t want to miss!
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Alabama
Supreme Court to hear Alabama appeal in push to execute intellectually disabled man

The Supreme Court will hear an appeal from Alabama’s Attorney General’s Office in its push to execute an intellectually disabled man, according to an order released early on Friday.
Joseph Clifton Smith, now 54, was sentenced to death for a decades-old murder — a decision that continues to be challenged in court.
In 1997, Smith beat Durk Van Dam to death with a hammer and a saw in Mobile County to steal his boots, tools and $140, Reuters reported. Van Dam’s body was found in his truck in an isolated wooded area.
Lower federal courts found Smith is intellectually disabled and can’t be executed. People who are intellectually disabled are protected from the death penalty following a Supreme Court ruling from 2002.
But this fall, the Supreme Court will hear arguments about what to do in cases when IQ scores are slightly above the widely accepted 70-point marker to determine if someone is intellectually disabled.

When a federal appeals court ruled in May 2023 that Smith could not be executed due to his intellectual disability, it detailed how he struggled in school from an early age.
Since first grade, Smith struggled in school, and when he underwent an intellectual evaluation he received an IQ score of 75, CNN reported at the time, citing the appeals court.
In fourth grade, Smith was placed in a learning-disability class.
“After that placement, Smith developed an unpredictable temper and often fought with classmates. His behavior became so troublesome that his school placed him in an ‘emotionally conflicted classroom,”’ the appeals court wrote in its ruling.
Smith dropped out of school after failing seventh and eighth grade and then spent “much of the next 15 years in prison” for crimes of burglary and receiving stolen property, according to the ruling.
The appeals court said Smith confessed to killing Van Dam and that he “offered two conflicting versions of the crime.”
Smith first said he watched Van Dam be killed, and then he said he took part in his murder but didn’t mean to kill him, according to the appeals court.
The Alabama Attorney General’s office decried the appeals court’s ruling, saying at the time, according to CNN, “Smith’s IQ scores have consistently placed his IQ above that of someone who is intellectually disabled. The Attorney General thinks his death sentence was both just and constitutional.”
The Supreme Court will now consider making it harder for convicted murderers to show their lives should be spared because they are intellectually disabled.
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