4-Star Michigan DE Khalid Kareem Decommits from Alabama, A Trend is Developing

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

A trend in Michigan is developing but the first guess as to the underlying current might not be what most people would suspect. On Wednesday, Alabama lost 4-star Farmington Hills defensive end Khalid Kareem after the prized recruit posted a message on Twitter de-committing.

Kareem posted the change in his future writing, “After careful consideration and a lot of hear felt talks with my mother. In my families (sic) best interest we’ve informed the Coaches (sic) that I am decommitted from the University of Alabama at this time. Thank you to Coach Saban and Coach Williams and Coach Tosh for everything you’ve taught me a long (sic) the way. Thank you to the entire Crimson Tide family and community.”

Kareem, listed at 6’4”, 257 pounds, is in the neighborhood of 30 scholarship offers from seemingly every other top program in the nation. The Harrison High School star has offers from Ohio State, South Carolina, Stanford, Arkansas, Miami, Cal, Duke, Harvard, Tennessee, Oregon, Mississippi State, Missouri and in-state power Michigan State. He also holds an offer from Michigan. Considering the 180 the Wolverines program has taken under first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh one would think the movement for Big Blue is in swing but another regional team appears to have caught his eye.

The trend may have started when 5-star defensive end/linebacker Daelin Hayes decommitted from USC on Sunday after Steve Sarkisian’s announced troubles reportedly with alcohol leading to his subsequent firing. Hayes plays for Skyline High School in Ann Arbor, in Michigan’s backyard. Hayes and Kareem are now both rumored to be interested in Notre Dame, not Michigan or Michigan State.

After Hayes left USC’s recruiting class they also lost 5-star North Torrance linebacker Mique Juarez.

The Harrison Hawks are off to a 6-1 start this season after finishing the 2014 season 10-3. Kareem has 42 tackles on the season, 29 for a loss, 15 sacks, four forced fumbles, and four pass deflections.

The Crimson Tide now have 17 verbal commitments and have dropped out of the Top 10 national recruiting rankings for the 2016 class. USC has plummeted from a Top 5 ranked recruiting class to No. 14 despite eight of their 14 commitments being 4-star prospects. Notre Dame currently has the No. 21 ranked recruiting class per Rivals with 16 commitments. The class of 16 does not feature a 5-star recruit but does have six 4-star players.

Photo credit: mlive.com; Khalid Kareem committing to Alabama in June.